Former federal corrections officer sentenced to over 12 years in prison in West Salem child sex abuse case

DALLAS, Ore. (April 15, 2026) — A Salem man has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison after pleading no contest to sexually abusing a child in West Salem, according to court records.

Peter Nicholas Fles Jr., 41, was sentenced Monday, April 14, 2026, by Polk County Circuit Judge pro tem Timothy R. Park to 150 months in prison—equivalent to 12 years and five months—followed by 45 months of post-prison supervision. He will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.

Fles pleaded no contest to two counts of first-degree sex abuse involving a child under the age of 14. Under Oregon’s Ballot Measure 11 sentencing laws, the judge imposed two consecutive 75-month mandatory prison terms. The statute does not allow for early release or sentence reduction programs in such cases.

According to court information, Fles was employed as a corrections officer at the Federal Correctional Institution in Sheridan at the time of his arrest in 2024.

The Polk County District Attorney’s Office said the case was made possible through the victim’s willingness to report the abuse and their cooperation throughout the investigation. Prosecutors also acknowledged the work of the Salem Police Department in handling the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Polk County Deputy District Attorney Shannon Clausen.

Authorities did not release additional details about the circumstances of the abuse, citing the sensitivity of the case and the victim’s privacy.

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