SEATTLE – James Harrison Newcomer, a 27-year-old registered sex offender, is in federal custody today, accused of crossing state lines to prey on teenage girls. U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman announced the charges, detailing a pattern of alleged assaults carried out after Newcomer brazenly absconded from court-ordered supervision.
The criminal complaint alleges that between February and April 2024, Newcomer assaulted three separate teens he connected with through Snapchat. The victims, ranging in age from 14 to 16, hail from Snoqualmie, Auburn, Washington, and Woodburn, Oregon. Newcomer allegedly provided the girls with drugs and alcohol before sexually assaulting them.
This isn’t Newcomer’s first rodeo with the law. Records show he previously served a 30-month prison sentence for two counts of rape of a child. Following his release, he was placed on state supervision, including electronic monitoring via an ankle bracelet. That monitoring failed spectacularly. The ankle monitor lost connection on January 19, 2024, and when corrections officers attempted to locate Newcomer on January 25, 2024, he was gone – vanished into the shadows, free to re-offend.
For three months, Newcomer exploited social media to target vulnerable teens, arranging in-person meetings under false pretenses. He leveraged Snapchat to groom and then attack his victims, demonstrating a calculated and disturbing pattern of predatory behavior. Law enforcement sources tell Grimy Times the investigation is focusing on the ease with which predators can use social media to find victims.
Newcomer’s actions now carry severe consequences. Traveling with intent to engage in sexual acts with a minor is a federal crime, punishable by up to 30 years behind bars. He is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle today at 2:00 PM. Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson is prosecuting the case.
The investigation is a multi-agency effort, spearheaded by the FBI, with crucial support from the Woodburn, Oregon Police Department, the Marion County District Attorney’s Office, the Auburn Police Department, the Snoqualmie Police Department, and the Kent Police Department. The Department of Corrections is also assisting. Investigators are urging anyone with information about other potential victims to contact the Seattle FBI Field Office at 206-622-0460. It is crucial to remember that the charges contained in the complaint are allegations, and Newcomer is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Related Federal Cases
- Cross-State Predator: Trafficker Faces Decades Behind Bars · Washington
- Portland Predator Busted for Traveling to Seattle for Child Sex · Washington
- Predator Washington Gets Life for Cross-State Sex Trafficking · Washington
- La Grande Predator Gets 12+ Years for Snapchat Abuse · Washington
- Teen Sex Assault Ring Leader Caught in Electronic Monitoring Escape · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Sex CrimesSex CrimesSex CrimesSex Crimes