Dewayne Forrest, 53, from Coos County, has been sentenced to 162 years in prison for child sex abuse. He was found guilty on nine counts after an investigation by the Oregon Department of Justice's Internet Crimes Against Children task force, which started with two cyber tips about child sexual abuse material linked to Forrest, according to the Oregon Department of Justice.
Forrest, who had been investigated multiple times since the 1990s but never charged in Coos County, was arrested after his phone number was linked to the upload of illegal materials involving children under 12. Although there had been previous investigations, no charges were filed until agents uncovered a pattern of abuse. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield emphasized the importance of the investigation and survivor testimonies, stating, "When our special agents learned this man had previously been investigated for sexually abusing children, they knew there was more to uncover. Because they pushed forward – and because survivors came forward – this predator has been removed from the community for good." Rayfield confirmed that without the investigation, Forrest would have continued his crimes, as reported by the Oregon Department of Justice.
Forrest pleaded guilty to Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse and was sentenced to 1,955 months in prison last Friday. The Oregon Department of Justice is asking anyone with information about possible additional victims to contact the Internet Crimes Against Children task force. Law enforcement is working to hold individuals accountable for such crimes.
