Oregon
Oregon reports sharp increase in tips about ‘sextortion’ of minors
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The Oregon Department of Justice reported a sharp uptick in tips about “sextortion” of minors since 2020 and shared updated guidance on keeping kids safe online for Safer Internet Day on Feb. 11.
The state’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force receives cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Tips related to sextortion, categorized as “online enticement of children for sexual acts,” have increased by 857%, from nearly 200 in 2020 to nearly 2,000 last year, the DOJ said.
The FBI said sextortion “occurs when someone threatens to distribute your private and sensitive material if you don’t provide them images of a sexual nature, sexual favors, or money.”
“As a parent myself, these cases and the numbers we’re seeing in Oregon alone are deeply troubling,” said Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield. “Our investigators are dedicated to combating online threats. They are working with investigators across the country, and around (the) world in some cases, to get justice for these kids and their families.”
Oregon’s task force has received a total of 46,205 cybertips since it began in 2004, a spokesperson said. Tips have led to 353 arrests and 2,070 investigations, according to the DOJ’s 2025-2027 budget request.
There are 61 task forces throughout the country. NCMEC receives tips about sextortion and other child exploitation online and sends them to task forces.
Mark Williamson, assistant chief criminal investigator for Oregon’s ICAC, said sextortion is the “biggest issue that we’re dealing with right now when it comes to kids.”
Oregon’s task force was expanded last year after legislators approved nearly $2.7 million in additional funding for 14 additional positions to what was previously a staff of five. In addition to investigating tips, the ICAC gives education and prevention presentations and trains law enforcement on how to respond.
“That is a big component of what we’re doing — trying to prevent these incidents from happening, and educating everyone, from the kids to their families to law enforcement — so they know what to look out for and who to turn to,” said Williamson.
Anastasia Mason covers state government for the Statesman Journal. Reach her at acmason@statesmanjournal.com or 971-208-5615.
Oregon lawmakers have a new roadmap for tackling racism as a public health issue, and it’s packed with more than 100 recommendations for the 2027 legislative session.
According to KGW8, the Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office released the four-year report this week, built on input from more than 200 Oregonians of color and developed alongside the Oregon Health Authority. It digs into how Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color face unequal access to stable jobs, education, health care, and housing — the everyday conditions that shape locals’ lives.
“This is an opportunity for state government to earn trust with communities of color who have been historically excluded,” said executive director of the Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office, Jeff Selby, per the outlet. “The report process is a model for community engagement, as we all work together toward meaningful outcomes in community.”
State Rep. Travis Nelson said the findings have already shaped legislation, with several bills signed into law over the past two sessions covering topics like culturally specific health services and school staffing diversity. One concrete example: After residents flagged that Spanish-speaking applicants were passing the DMV’s written driving test at a rate of roughly 21%, versus 51% for English speakers, organizers connected the DMV with community groups to address the gap.
The report dates back to 2021, when Oregon lawmakers formally declared racism a public health crisis. “Racism in Oregon has left a legacy of trauma from one generation to the next, impacting Oregon tribes, Black and indigenous communities and people of color through a cumulative effect,” a section of the declaration reads.
A separate report from the Commonwealth Fund found Oregon has more severe racial and ethnic health disparities than its neighbors in the West, with Native American, Black, and Hispanic residents lagging behind white and Asian American residents on access, quality, and outcomes. Researchers warned that federal changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act since 2025 could make those gaps worse, not better.
The Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office says the goal now is turning research into real policy before lawmakers reconvene — and building trust with communities that have historically been left out of the process.
The full report can be seen here.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A former Oregon corrections officer received a lifetime hunting ban on Wednesday after pleading guilty to several poaching-related charges.
Christopher Mason, 49, of Umatilla, was sentenced in two separate court cases to 24 months of probation and 300 hours of community service. He was also fined over $114,000 and was required to forfeit his firearms.
Oregon State Police said they began investigating Mason in 2024 after receiving information that he had been poaching big game animals.
“In February 2025, OSP served a search warrant, and multiple big game animals and firearms were seized as evidence. Sixty-seven criminal charges were referred for prosecution,” officials said. “The charges spanned multiple counties.”
Mason pleaded guilty to four counts of unlawful take of buck deer and three counts of unlawful take of black bear on June 18. In a separate case on June 26, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a short-barreled rifle, unlawful possession of a silencer, unlawful possession of multiple wildlife and unlawful take of mule deer.
“This is another example of serial poaching which rises to the level of felony conduct based solely on the repeated poaching conduct and impact of one individual on Oregon’s game mammals,” prosecutor Jay Hall said. “The conduct across the several counties amounts to one of the highest damage amounts done to Oregon wildlife by any singular actor.”
SEATTLE — With national firefighting resources already stretched to their limits, statewide fire restrictions remain in effect for all Bureau of Land Management public lands throughout Washington and Oregon, with some local regions also implementing additional emergency closures.
As the Independence Day holiday weekend approaches, officials warned that people responsible for starting wildfires could face up to $100,000 in fines, 12 months in prison, and liability for all firefighting suppression costs.
SEE ALSO | Washington braces for earlier wildfire season due to low snowpack: ‘Worse than normal’
“There are serious consequences for starting a wildfire, including fines and possibly imprisonment, which we hope everyone can avoid through careful choices,” said Josh O’Connor, Northwest Geographic Area Fire Chief for the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. “We have already experienced excruciating loss this season. I cannot stress the gravity of the situation enough. Please help protect our firefighters and communities.”
Officials urged visitors to research their destinations in advance, noting that local restrictions can determine when power tools may be used, what kinds of stoves or campfires are allowed, and what safety equipment is required.
The BLM said the following items remain strictly prohibited on all BLM lands in Oregon and Washington: fireworks and sky lanterns; exploding or metallic targets; tracer or incendiary devices; and steel component ammunition, including core or jacket.
“Lighting a firework or leaving a smoldering campfire creates significant wildland fire risk. Under the right conditions, they easily start wildfires,” said Kim Prill, BLM Oregon/Washington acting state director. “Don’t risk it. Let’s work together to prevent every wildfire possible.”
More information on seasonal fire restrictions and fire closures is available HERE.
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