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News Release
Anthony Curry convicted following a four-day human sex trafficking trial in Multnomah County - 01/17/19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 

JANUARY DATE, 2019

Anthony Curry convicted following a four-day human sex trafficking trial in Multnomah County

 

Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that a jury unanimously convicted 54-year-old Anthony Curry of 23 counts of various sex crimes following a four-day trial prosecuted by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office Human Trafficking Team (HTT).

The jury convicted Curry of one count of compelling prostitution, two counts of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct, four counts of attempting to use a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct, seven counts of sodomy in the third degree, eight counts of rape in the third degree and one count of attempting to commit promoting prostitution.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 14, 2019 at 2:30 p.m. with Judge Tom Ryan.

During trial, the state presented evidence that proved the victim was 15 years old at the time of the offenses. In July 2014, she was in Portland, Oregon waiting for a TriMet bus when the defendant drove past her, slowed his vehicle and circled the area. Curry stopped his vehicle in the middle of the road and started talking to her.

Curry convinced the victim to enter his vehicle and brought her to his residence in Multnomah County.

"Mr. Curry already had clothes waiting for her. He had alcohol and marijuana. His plan was to have sex with her that night,” Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney J.R. Ujifusa, who prosecuted this case, said during closing arguments.

The defendant immediately started grooming the teen for human sex trafficking, according to evidence presented at trial.

During this investigation, law enforcement located multiple photos of the victim taken by Curry. The first photo was dated July 19, 2014.

The jury was presented an evolution of photos that Curry took of the victim. In the start, the photos showed a normal 15 year old. By the end, “…you couldn’t even see [her] face. She's posed on a bed or a couch. There are photographs of her genital area so that those can be posted for strangers to look at online and contact her, to use her and pay her for sex," Ujifusa said during closing arguments.

The photos of the victim were posted on Backpage.com, according to evidence presented at trial. Additionally, the victim testified that Curry provided her with a fake ID so they could get enter local strip clubs.

The victim soon found herself dancing naked alongside adult women, according to testimony presented at trial. Curry would drop her off at the club and pick her up “with his hand out waiting for that money,” Ujifusa said during closing arguments.

On September 9, 2014, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence where they located a heavily-highlighted and studied book titled, "The Art of Seduction,” according to evidence presented at trial. The book included detailed information on how to manipulate and control individuals. The book explained how to locate potential individuals who can be highly influenced.

"And that's what Mr. Curry did. He hunted and he found [the victim],” Ujifusa said.

The jury acquitted the defendant of one count of sodomy in the third degree.

This case was litigated by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office Human Trafficking Team, which includes two attorneys, an investigator and a victim advocate. Additionally, an attorney assigned to the MCDA gang unit is available to help prosecute cases and support the team as trafficking routinely intersects with gang violence.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office recognizes the work of Beaverton Police Detective Chad Opitz, who is a task force officer on the Portland FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, for his work as lead investigator on this case.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office’s Human Trafficking Team works to protect victims utilizing a three-prong approach: (1) aggressively prosecuting those who traffic victims to sex buyers; (2) reducing demand for exploitation in all forms to include a dedicated focus on a reduction of sex buyers; and (3) ensuring adequate protection and support for victims of human trafficking.

If you are involved in sex trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or 9-1-1.

#MCDA#


Contact: Brent Weisberg, Communications Director

Phone: 503.988.6567

Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us

Attached Media Files: PR-19-19-Anthony_Curry.pdf
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