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News Release
Wayne Allen Edward receives 80 month prison sentence for child pornography possession - 09/17/19

September 17, 2019

Wayne Allen Edward receives 80 month prison sentence for child pornography possession

Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that 41-year-old Wayne Allen Edwards received an 80 month prison sentence following a sex crimes investigation conducted by the Portland Police Bureau’s Child Abuse Team, which resulted in the seizure of more than 400 images of child pornography.

“We work closely with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate any cybertip to identify individuals who possess, trade or distribute these appalling images,” said Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney BJ Park, who litigated this case. “With more and more social media networks out there, we continue to rely on our partners and the community to report any type of suspicious content. The worst thing someone can do is to assume somebody else will make a report. These investigations are complex and require law enforcement to act quickly, which is why we encourage that immediate reporting, even if it is anonymously.”

This investigation started when a social media company made a cybertip about a user uploading sexually explicit images of children to his account and sending them to other users on the same platform. Law enforcement traced the user’s IP address and determined the person uploading the images was living in Portland, Oregon.

In April 2018, based on evidence gathered during the investigation, police obtained a court-authorized search warrant for Edwards and his residence. During the search, law enforcement seized various electronic devices including a smartphone that belonged to Edwards. A digital forensic examination of the phone was conducted and law enforcement determined Edwards was the exclusive owner and user of the phone.

During the search, law enforcement located more than 400 child pornography images, approximately 20 videos of prepubescent children being sexually assaulted and a file of an animal being sexually abused. Law enforcement also learned that Edwards contacted other individuals online - who claimed to be minors - and compelled them to send him naked images and other sexually explicit photos of themselves for his sexual gratification.

On August 22, 2019, Edwards appeared in Multnomah County Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to one count of encouraging child sexual abuse in the first degree, one count of attempting to use a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct and one count of encouraging sexual abuse of an animal.

By pleading guilty, Edwards admitted that he unlawfully and knowingly duplicated, disseminated, displayed and exchanged a visual recording of sexually explicit conduct involving a child while knowing and being aware of, and consciously disregarding, the fact that the creation of the material involved sexually explicit conduct involving a child; that he unlawfully and intentionally attempted to compel and induce a child to participate in and engage in sexually explicit conduct for a person to watch or record; and that he unlawfully and knowingly, for the purpose of arousing and satisfying the sexual desires of himself, or another person, possessed a visual recording of a person engaged in sexual conduct with an animal.

Upon release, Edwards will be on three years of post-prison supervision and will have to register as a sex offender.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office recognizes the Portland Police Bureau’s Child Abuse Team and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children for their dedicated efforts investigating this case.

To make a cybertip to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, please click here.

#MCDA#


Contact: Brent Weisberg, Communications Director

Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office

Phone: 503.988.6567 | Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us

Attached Media Files: PR-19-223-Wayne_Allen_Edwards.pdf
View more news releases from Multnomah Co. District Attorney's Office.