Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Exploiting Ten Teens Aged 12-16

Seattle’s grim streets witnessed another harrowing chapter in the fight against sexual exploitation when James “Jake” Harrison Newcomer, a 28-year-old registered sex offender, pleaded guilty to federal charges for the sexual exploitation of ten teenage girls aged 12-16. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller.

Newcomer’s criminal activities began in February 2024 when he absconded from Department of Corrections Community Custody after cutting off his electronic monitoring device. Over the next three months, he targeted minors via social media platforms, arranging face-to-face meetings during which he provided drugs and alcohol before sexually assaulting them.

According to records, Newcomer was under state supervision following a 30-month prison sentence for two counts of rape of a child when he went on the lam. On January 19, his ankle monitor lost connection, only for corrections officers to find him gone by the time they attempted an arrest on January 25.

The victims, ranging in age from 12 to 16, hailed from various counties including King, Snohomish, and Spokane, as well as Woodburn, Oregon. Newcomer’s plea includes charges of Travel with intent to engage in sexual acts with a minor and two counts of attempted enticement of a minor, each carrying significant prison terms.

Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson is prosecuting the case, which is part of Project Safe Childhood, a federal initiative targeting child sexual exploitation. The investigation involves multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, local police departments, and the Department of Corrections.

Newcomer will face sentencing before U.S. District Judge John H. Chun on November 17, 2025, with both prosecutors and defense recommending a 17-year prison term. The public’s anger over this case underscores the ongoing need for robust efforts to combat child sexual exploitation in our digital age.

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