Joint Task Force Sweep Arrests Five Local Suspects For 42 Felony Counts Of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse, Investigators Discover Local Victims (Photo) - 09/29/23

JCSO Cases 23-1656, 22-7462, 22-0731, 22-1482, 22-4223

ROGUE VALLEY, Ore. – The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) joint inter-agency task force arrested five separate suspects today on 42 encouraging child sexual abuse felony charges. Investigations led the task force throughout the Rogue Valley including addresses in Medford, Central Point, and Grants Pass. Although the cases are not connected, total felony charges included 32 counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, 10 counts of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, 16 counts of first-degree invasion of personal privacy, and a felon in possession of a firearm.

Six local and federal law enforcement agencies assisted SOCET with today’s arrests including Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the United States Marshals Service (USMS) Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force (PNVOTF), Medford Police Department, Central Point Police Department, and the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force (SOHTCTF). 

Each investigation began when SOCET received tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which led to subpoenas, followed by search warrants at the respective residences. Investigators seized digital devices during the searches and applied for additional warrants to examine the devices. Once the additional search warrants were signed, SOHTCTF forensically examined the devices for further evidence of child exploitation. At that point SOCET took each case through a Grand Jury hearing and the courts issued warrants for each suspect’s arrest. 

The first arrest came when SOCET received a tip that a suspect was leaving his residence in the 60 block of Jeanette Avenue in Medford. The task force located and arrested Steven Wesley Rambo, 60, of Medford, on nine felony counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. He is now lodged at the Jackson County Jail. Investigators have reason to believe Rambo may have other child victims. If you have any information on the suspect, contact investigators through the Sheriff’s App “Submit a Tip” feature. Download the App here: https://apps.myocv.com/share/a72997501. You can also call the JCSO Tip Line at (541) 774-8333 and reference case number 22-7462.

Next, the task force located a suspect’s vehicle near his residence in the 20 block of Washington Street in Medford. The task force arrested Michael David Robertson, 45, of Medford, for three felony counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, and 16 counts of first-degree invasion of personal privacy. He is now lodged at the Jackson County Jail. Previously, a NCMEC cyber tip led investigators to serve a search warrant at Robertson’s former residence in the 800 block of Forest Glen Drive in Central Point where numerous child exploitation images were uploaded. During the search warrant investigators discovered a hidden camera in the bathroom of the residence which led to the invasion of personal privacy charges. During the course of the investigation there are still two unidentified victims. If you have any information about the suspect or victims, submit a tip on the Sheriff’s App or call the JCSO Tip Line at (541) 774-8333 and reference case number 23-1656.

The task force then located and arrested David Anthony Price, 40, at his residence in the 1000 block of Morgan Lane in Grants Pass, for 10 felony counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Previously, a NCMEC cyber tip led investigators to his former residence in the 700 block of North River Road in Rogue River where numerous child exploitation images were uploaded. He is now lodged at the Jackson County Jail.

The next arrest came when Mark Joseph Harding, 37, of Central Point, turned himself in at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in Central Point. Harding is charged with 10 felony counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. Previously, a NCMEC cyber tip led investigators to his residence in the 800 block of South Haskell Street in Central Point where numerous child exploitation images were uploaded. He is now lodged at the Jackson County Jail.

The final arrest for the sweep came when investigators contacted David Michael Painter, 62, at his residence in the 2500 block of Rabun Way in Central Point. Painter is charged with 10 felony counts of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. He is now lodged in the Jackson County Jail.

SOCET is a joint inter-agency task force that started in June of 2020 to combat child exploitation and human trafficking. The task force consists of investigators from JCSO and HSI; as well as prosecutors from our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in Jackson and Josephine County.