Benton County, OR. — Joshua Paul Tallman was sentenced Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, to 25 years in prison following his conviction last week on multiple counts of first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree unlawful sexual penetration.
Tallman was taken into custody by Benton County Sheriff’s Office deputies immediately after sentencing and will serve his term with the Oregon Department of Corrections. He will also be subject to lifetime post-prison supervision and must register as a sex offender.
Although six charges were presented to the jury at trial, the victim testified that the abuse occurred multiple times a week over a three-year period, beginning when she was between six and eight years old.
Before issuing the sentence, Judge Matthew Donohue found that Tallman knew of the victim’s particular vulnerability due to her young age, the fact that she was alone in her home at the time of the abuse, and his position in a special relationship of trust. The court also noted the victim’s fear that disclosing the abuse would not be believed because of her mother’s relationship with Tallman.
The judge ordered two 25-year sentences and two 75-month sentences to run concurrently rather than consecutively, a decision that avoided a potentially longer prison term. Judge Donohue indicated he believed Tallman could be rehabilitated.
Benton County District Attorney Ryan Joslin said he believed a longer sentence was warranted.
“Tallman imposed a life sentence on this young victim through his selfish acts,” Joslin said. “In recognition of the multitude and magnitude of his crimes, it is my opinion that justice warranted longer than the minimum sentence.”
Joslin also commended Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Ipson for his work on the case, calling the sentencing “a long overdue day of reckoning for the defendant and a day of new beginnings for the victim.”
About the Author
Discover more from Right Now Oregon
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
