EUGENE, Ore. – Christopher Jay Young, 40, of North Bend, Oregon, is headed to federal prison for a sickening crime: attempting to sexually exploit a child. Young was sentenced today to 180 months – 15 years – behind bars, followed by 15 years of supervised release. The sentence comes after a disturbing investigation into his online predation.
Court documents reveal that on January 20, 2024, Young used Facebook Messenger to manipulate a minor into engaging in sexually explicit acts, recording them, and sending the resulting material to him. This isn’t just a violation of privacy; it’s a calculated act of abuse that inflicts lasting trauma on a vulnerable victim.
Law enforcement moved swiftly. On April 11, 2024, a multi-agency task force – including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oregon State Police, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lane County Sheriff’s Office – executed federal search warrants at Young’s home and vehicles. Investigators seized his devices, uncovering damning evidence of his depraved scheme.
The search revealed Young didn’t just communicate with the minor through social media; he actively sought to control the situation. He had the minor’s Facebook login credentials saved on his phone, and used the victim’s account to solicit the abusive material. A federal grand jury in Eugene returned a two-count indictment on April 16, 2024, charging Young with attempting to use a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct and attempting to coerce or entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual conduct. He pleaded guilty on May 6, 2025, to the first charge.
This case was spearheaded by the FBI and the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, with valuable assistance from HSI. Assistant United States Attorney William M. McLaren prosecuted the case, ensuring Young faced justice for his heinous actions. It’s a grim reminder of the dangers lurking online, and the importance of vigilance in protecting our children.
If you suspect a child is being exploited, do not hesitate to act. Contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Remember, child pornography isn’t just imagery; it’s documentation of real abuse. To learn more about combating child sexual exploitation, visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a DOJ initiative to fight child exploitation: www.justice.gov/psc.
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Key Facts
- State: Oregon
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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