A 40-year-old Troutdale man is facing a stack of child sex abuse charges after deputies raided a home on the 700 block of Southwest Halsey Street and hauled him off to jail, authorities said.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said Josiah Coberley was arrested Thursday after detectives executed a search warrant at the residence. He was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on 15 counts of encouraging child sexual abuse in the first degree. Investigators said they recovered material during the search but are not releasing any details about potential victims. The case remains active and will be sent to the district attorney’s office for review.
Search Warrant, Charges and Booking
According to the sheriff’s office, detectives served the warrant at the home on April 2 and seized multiple electronic devices as part of an investigation that began with a tip to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the agency told KOIN.
Coberley was booked on 15 counts of encouraging child sexual abuse in the first degree. Investigators said each of those 15 counts is tied to a separate visual recording identified during the probe. The sheriff’s office added that the investigation is still underway and that additional charges could be filed, depending on what digital-forensics teams uncover.
What the Charges Mean
Under Oregon law, encouraging child sexual abuse in the first degree is defined at ORS 163.684 and is classified as a Class B felony, according to the Oregon Legislature.
To secure a conviction, prosecutors must show that a defendant knowingly developed, duplicated or distributed a visual recording of sexually explicit conduct involving a child. Each distinct recording can be charged as its own offense, which is how investigators arrived at 15 counts in this case. Sentencing for a Class B felony is set by state statutes and sentencing guidelines, and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office will review the sheriff’s office evidence before deciding whether to file formal charges.
Investigation Began After National Tip
Per KOIN, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said the case started with a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which funnels suspected child-exploitation reports to local law enforcement agencies around the country.
Detectives said they tied the alleged material to 15 separate recordings, then obtained the warrant to seize electronic devices for a closer forensic look. Deputies have not said whether any of the victims are local or released their ages, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation and the need to protect victim privacy.
What’s Next
The seized devices will now go through digital-forensics analysis, and the case will be handed over to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office for a charging decision, according to the sheriff’s office. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office or submit a report to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline.
As with any arrest, the charges are still allegations, and Coberley is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
