Lane County, OR. — The Lane County Sheriff’s Office announced that it concluded 2025 with 26 arrests tied to Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigations, with seven cases resulting in convictions and sentences to date.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, investigators examined at least 35 suspects during the year for offenses related to online child sexual abuse material. These cases were handled through the Lane County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which includes a dedicated digital forensics detective and a major crimes detective assigned in addition to their regular caseloads that also involve non-ICAC child sex abuse investigations.
Data from the Oregon Department of Justice ICAC database shows that since January 2025, Lane County investigators have handled 35 offenders, resulting in 26 ICAC-related arrests. Of those cases, nine involved suspects accused of “hands-on” offenses. Detectives also served 62 search warrants and 43 court subpoenas, assisted in rescuing five children from ongoing abuse, identified 14 new child victims, and provided eight technical assists to other law enforcement agencies.
Sheriff’s officials said detectives are continuing to work 34 active cyber tips reported by electronic service providers involving suspected child sexual abuse material.
Of the cases that have reached sentencing so far, seven individuals have been convicted: William Harold Berry (112 months), Ralph Anthony Pocza (86 months), Brett Ronald Steele (45 months following a downward departure), James Watson Gilbert (108 months), Ford D’Angelo Ke’Shawn (60 months), Noah Alan Starkey-Gomes (60 months), and Matthew Allen Drake (600 months).
The Lane County ICAC Task Force is a collaborative effort involving local, state, and federal partners, including the Oregon State Police, Eugene Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Cottage Grove Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Oregon Department of Justice, and the Lane County District Attorney’s Office.
While each agency makes arrests in its own cases, task force members work jointly to investigate offenders across Lane County. Officials emphasized that investigations remain ongoing and that additional arrests are possible as active cyber tips are reviewed.
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