Ashland Police Dept.
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News Release
Ashland and Central Point PD Investigate Child Exploitation Cases - 09/17/24

UPDATE 9/17/2024: On Tuesday September 17, 2024 a Jackson County Grand Jury convened to consider additional charges against Craig Johnson. Information presented by investigators and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office resulted in Johnson being indicated on the following charges:

14 Counts of Using Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct

6 Counts of Attempted Using Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct

2 Counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 1st Degree

1 Count of Invasion of Personal Privacy in the 1st Degree

Johnson remains in custody at the Jackson County Jail.

The number of known victims in the Ashland area remains at six at this time.  

This investigation in on going and additional updates will be proved as the investigation allows.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Lacie Six at APD 541-552-2125

 

On 7/19/24 the Central Point Police Department received a report of potential sexual exploitation of a 5 year old child. Members of the Central Point Police Department Criminal Investigations Division took over the investigation. This complaint led to the arrest of Craig Albert Johnson, 68 years old, of Ashland. Johnson was lodged at the Jackson County Jail on 7/30/24 on the charges of Invasion of Personal Privacy in the First Degree, Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the First Degree and Using a Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct. Johnson remains in custody as of this release. 

During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Johnson was employed at the Children's World Montessori School in Ashland and that additional instances of child exploitation had occurred at the school in Ashland. This discovery brought detectives from the Ashland Police Department into the investigation.

Several victims have been identified and detectives are actively working on identifying additional potential victims. So far, all children found to have been victimized by Johnson are female. 

The Children's World Montessori School is cooperating with this investigation. The Ashland Police Department and Central Point Police Department understand the impact this has to our community and are actively working to investigate this matter. 

As the investigation proceeds additional criminal charges will be added as appropriate.

In addition to APD and CPPD this case is receiving assistance from the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force, the Jackson County Sexual Assault Response Team and the Jackson County District Attorney’s office.

Anyone with information relating to this investigation is asked to please reach out to Detective Lacie Six with the Ashland Police Department. 

 

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