White City, Oregon– The Oregon Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, working with the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET), executed several search warrants this week that led to two arrests in an investigation into online child sexual abuse material.
Preliminary findings show more than a thousand images and videos were exchanged over social media platforms. The material includes children being coerced into sexually explicit posing and depictions of violent assaults. In one case, an individual discussed online the abuse of a very young child.
The SOCET team is made up of members from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Medford Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Talent Police Department, Eagle Point Police Department, and the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said coordinated law enforcement efforts are vital in confronting crimes that target children.
“The crimes being investigated here are among the most disturbing imaginable. Every image represents the exploitation of a child, and every child deserves to be safe from this kind of harm,” Rayfield said. “I’m grateful for the dedication of our investigators, local law enforcement, and federal partners who work tirelessly to protect kids in Oregon and hold offenders accountable.”
The warrants, carried out in Jackson County, targeted suspects accused of encouraging child sexual abuse in the first and second degree. Investigators seized multiple electronic devices, which will undergo forensic analysis, and prosecutors will review the evidence.
In White City, officers arrested Eddie Lukon Stith on Avenue H on an outstanding warrant from Spokane, Washington, for sexual exploitation of a minor. An Oregon investigation involving Stith is also ongoing.
In Medford, investigators arrested Matthew Mario Maya at an address on Table Rock Road on 10 new counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. Maya is already awaiting trial on similar charges from an earlier SOCET investigation, but authorities said the new charges are unrelated.
Investigators are continuing to analyze the seized devices and interview witnesses. No further details have been released.
All suspects are believed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
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