Redmond Man Arrested And Indicted On Child Sex Abuse Charges Following Investigation By The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office
- 03/26/26
Redmond, Ore. -- In December 2025, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit received multiple CyberTipline reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children involving two Twitter/X accounts sharing illegal child exploitation material. Detectives also identified a related CyberTip from Snapchat tied to the same individual.
Following subpoenas and search warrants, the suspect was identified as Gelsyn Yahir Hernandez, 23, of Redmond.
On March 4, 2026, detectives executed search warrants at Hernandez’s residence and vehicle with assistance from DCSO Criminal Detectives, the Street Crimes Unit, the Redmond Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and digital forensics teams from both agencies. Multiple digital devices were seized.
Forensic analysis over the following weeks confirmed media consistent with the CyberTipline reports, as well as additional evidence involving the abuse of animals. Hernandez was arrested on March 20, 2026, and indicted by a Deschutes County grand jury on March 24, 2026, on the following charges:
- 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the First Degree (Felony)
- 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the Second Degree (Felony)
- 1 count of Encouraging Sexual Assault of an Animal (Misdemeanor)
During the investigation, detectives learned Hernandez was employed by the High Desert Education Service District (HDESD), which has fully cooperated with the Sheriff’s Office. There is no information indicating that any children in Central Oregon or at HDESD were victimized. Hernandez is no longer employed by HDESD, and he did not work directly with children.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office thanks the Redmond Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their assistance throughout this case.
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Redmond Man Arrested And Indicted On Child Sex Abuse Charges Following Investigation By The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office
- 03/26/26
Redmond, Ore. -- In December 2025, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit received multiple CyberTipline reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children involving two Twitter/X accounts sharing illegal child exploitation material. Detectives also identified a related CyberTip from Snapchat tied to the same individual.
Following subpoenas and search warrants, the suspect was identified as Gelsyn Yahir Hernandez, 23, of Redmond.
On March 4, 2026, detectives executed search warrants at Hernandez’s residence and vehicle with assistance from DCSO Criminal Detectives, the Street Crimes Unit, the Redmond Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and digital forensics teams from both agencies. Multiple digital devices were seized.
Forensic analysis over the following weeks confirmed media consistent with the CyberTipline reports, as well as additional evidence involving the abuse of animals. Hernandez was arrested on March 20, 2026, and indicted by a Deschutes County grand jury on March 24, 2026, on the following charges:
- 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the First Degree (Felony)
- 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the Second Degree (Felony)
- 1 count of Encouraging Sexual Assault of an Animal (Misdemeanor)
During the investigation, detectives learned Hernandez was employed by the High Desert Education Service District (HDESD), which has fully cooperated with the Sheriff’s Office. There is no information indicating that any children in Central Oregon or at HDESD were victimized. Hernandez is no longer employed by HDESD, and he did not work directly with children.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office thanks the Redmond Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their assistance throughout this case.
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