A Portland man who showed up to what he thought was a meetup with an underage girl in northeast Portland has been sentenced to 364 days in jail and two years of formal probation after pleading guilty to luring a minor and related sexual offenses in Multnomah County court.
The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office said Justin Joe Larson admitted to luring a minor and third-degree attempted rape as part of a plea agreement that set the 364-day jail term. As reported by KGW, Larson was also ordered to serve two years of formal probation and will remain a registered sex offender. Prosecutors said the case grew out of an online sting targeting adults trying to meet children.
Undercover sting and arrest
Police said Larson’s arrest followed a coordinated online child-exploitation mission involving Portland police, the FBI and neighboring departments. Investigators used undercover accounts that posed as minors, then arranged in-person meetings to see who would actually show up. FOX 12 previously detailed similar missions that resulted in multiple arrests.
Plea and prosecutors' account
According to KGW, Larson exchanged messages on Kik and Signal with accounts he believed were run by teenagers and ultimately agreed to meet at a park in northeast Portland. He was arrested in January when he arrived at the planned meetup. The DA's office said Larson told investigators he intended to have sex with who he believed was a minor. As part of the plea deal, he admitted to third-degree attempted rape and luring a minor, and the sentence reflects only those counts rather than the full slate of charges initially filed.
Where it happened
Larson had agreed to meet at Cully Park in northeast Portland. The city lists the main entrance at 5810 NE 72nd Ave. The 25-acre park includes a playground, sports field and off-leash dog area, and has been highlighted in recent years as part of neighborhood revitalization work. Community groups and the parks bureau have pointed to Cully Park as a key amenity in a historically park-poor area.
Charges prosecutors initially brought
When Larson and a separate suspect were arrested, authorities initially filed a broader set of charges that included luring a minor, first- and second-degree online sexual corruption of a child, and third-degree attempted rape and attempted sodomy, according to earlier local coverage. That reporting described officers arresting suspects when they arrived for prearranged meetings with accounts they believed were minors. The plea agreement narrowed the charges Larson admitted to, resulting in the sentence announced this week.
What officials said and next steps
The Multnomah County DA's office said the case highlights ongoing efforts to identify adults who seek to exploit children online and pledged to continue proactive investigations intended to deter that conduct. Police have asked anyone with information about related activity to contact investigators. Court records in Multnomah County Circuit Court will document Larson’s plea and sentencing. Prosecutors did not say whether additional charges may be filed against anyone else tied to the broader investigation.
