PORTLAND, Ore.—In a disturbing case of child exploitation, Gerald Ryan Davis, 37, of St. Helens, Oregon, was sentenced today to 13 years in federal prison and a life term of supervised release for travelling across state lines to repeatedly sexually assault a 14-year-old victim.
According to court documents, Davis used social media to find his victim and, beginning in December 2014, repeatedly traveled across state lines to meet in person and engage in criminal sexual conduct. Davis gave the victim alcohol during these encounters.
Davis, who was 33 years old at the time, had previously been convicted in 2011 of sexually abusing a 17-year-old and was sentenced to probation. While on probation, he repeatedly violated his release conditions by contacting minor victims and was ordered to serve two years in prison. He was released in July 2014, five months prior to sexually assaulting the minor victim in this case.
The investigation into Davis’s crimes began to unfold on January 31, 2017, when local police officers arrested him after executing a search warrant at his St. Helens home. While in custody, he admitted to sexually assaulting the minor. On March 1, 2019, he waived indictment and pleaded guilty to one count of traveling with intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the St. Helens Police Department. It was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. The successful prosecution of this case is a testament to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in bringing child predators to justice.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. The initiative aims to educate the public about the dangers of online exploitation and provide resources for victims and their families.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or submit a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies rely on tips from the public to identify and prosecute individuals who engage in child exploitation. By reporting suspicious activity, citizens can play a crucial role in keeping their communities safe and protecting vulnerable children from predators like Gerald Ryan Davis.
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Key Facts
- State: Oregon
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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