Following a two month investigation by the Oregon Department of Justice and the Bend Police Department, a local man was arrested for 25 counts of Encouraging Child Abuse in the First Degree.

Phillip Douglass,         DCJ Photo

Phillip Douglass, 61, of Bend was taken into custody without incident at 8:30 am on Wednesday, June 21^st by members of the Bend Police Department, Oregon Department of Justice, and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Computer Crime Unit.

The investigation was initiated by members of the Oregon Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) operated by the Oregon Department of Justice. Undercover agents working online child abuse/solicitation investigations discovered information related to Douglass sharing known child pornography images on a peer-to-peer network. Further investigation revealed that Douglass was residing in Bend and still active in sharing the images.

According to Detective Sgt. Rex Catt, Douglass was initially charged with 25 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse, a class “B” felony, and was lodged in the Deschutes County Jail where bail was set at $250,000.

At Thursday's court appearance, however, the Deschutes County District Attorney's Office added further charges resulting in a total of 155 counts. Bail was increased to $500,000 pending a formal indictment and arraignment, which is set for next week.