During the month of March, Lincoln City Police Officers conducted several online child-luring investigations. Posing as underage children on various social media platforms, the undercover officers went online and were subsequently contacted by adults who offered to meet up with a person they believed to be a minor for sex. When these adults arrived at an undisclosed public location to meet up with the minor, they instead were contacted by law enforcement and arrested.

43-year-old Daniel C. Bastien, of Lincoln City, was arrested on March 22, 2023 and charged with the crimes of Luring a Minor, Online Sexual Corruption of a Child in the first degree, Attempted Rape III, and Attempted Sodomy III. He was subsequently transported and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail.

34-year-old Austin J. Marshall, of Newport, was arrested on March 29, 2023 and charged with the crimes of Luring a Minor and Online Sexual Corruption of a Child in the first degree. He was subsequently transported and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail.

With April being National Child Abuse Awareness Month, the Lincoln City Police would like to encourage parents to monitor their children’s social media activity and discuss with them the possible dangers of communicating with strangers online. These investigations are conducted in an effort to reduce criminal activity and to further enhance the safety of our community.

Submitted by:  Lieutenant Jeffrey Winn