A Portland man pleaded guilty on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Portland to enticing a minor and possessing child sexual abuse material.
According to court records, in December 2022, Joshua Decker, 36, met the 16-year-old victim in an online chat forum and began regularly communicating with them despite knowing the victim was a minor.
In April 2023, the conversations became graphic and sexual, and Decker discussed traveling to meet the victim.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office does not identify victims of crime and is limiting identifying information, including gender and location, to protect the minor victim’s privacy.
In July 2023, the Portland Police Department executed a search warrant on Decker’s vehicle and person, recovering a tablet.
Examination of the tablet revealed child sexual abuse material.
Decker was convicted in Androscoggin County Criminal Court in 2018 for possession of sexually explicit material of a minor under 12.
Decker faces no less than 10 years and up to life in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 on the enticement charge and 10–20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the possession of child pornography charge.
Any sentence would be followed by five years to life of supervised release.
A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case with assistance from the Portland Police Department.
Key Facts
- State: Maine
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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