Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team Executes Search Warrant in Ashland

Ashland, Oregon- The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) executed a search warrant on August 6, following the discovery of child exploitation images downloaded from a residence in Ashland, Oregon. The ongoing investigation involves interviews with potential witnesses and parties of interest.

The search warrant was served at approximately 8 a.m. at a residence located in the 10 block of Pine Street. This action was initiated after a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, leading to the issuance of subpoenas and subsequent search warrant. The Ashland Police Department and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office assisted in the operation.

Support was also provided by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) and the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force (SOHTCTF). Investigators seized multiple digital devices from the residence, which will undergo forensic examination by SOHTCTF for further evidence of child exploitation.

SOCET, established in June 2020, is a joint inter-agency task force aimed at combating child exploitation. It comprises investigators from JCSO and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), along with prosecutors from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in Jackson and Josephine Counties. SOHTCTF is another joint inter-agency task force including investigators from JCSO, HSI, Oregon State Police, and Medford Police Department.

Officials say that no additional information is available for release at this time.