EUGENE, Ore.—In a chilling case of online exploitation, Ernesto Torres, 45, a registered sex offender from Madras, Oregon, has been sentenced to federal prison for attempting to entice a minor. Torres faced a decade behind bars after pleading guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
According to court documents, the sinister scheme began in July 2024 when Torres used Facebook Messenger to communicate with what he believed to be a 15-year-old girl. In reality, it was an undercover deputy with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. Over several months, Torres requested sexual images and discussed his desires for the child, even attempting to set up a meeting.
On December 1, 2024, Torres drove from Madras to Redmond, planning to meet the child at a cabin located about 50 miles away. His plan was foiled when he was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents on January 10, 2025. He was formally charged and pleaded guilty on July 15, 2025.
The investigation into Torres’s actions was a joint effort between HSI and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Matthew Nelson, Special Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, and William M. McLaren, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Project Safe Childhood, a Justice Department initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse, played a crucial role in this case. The program has been instrumental in identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting individuals like Torres who target children online.
HSI encourages anyone with information about the physical or online exploitation of children to contact them at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org. For more information on child sexual abuse and resources, visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.
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Key Facts
- State: Oregon
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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