Lane County Man Arrested in Child Exploitation Investigation

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — A 21-year-old Springfield-area man was arrested Tuesday morning following a child exploitation investigation conducted by the Lane County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

According to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, detectives responded at approximately 9 a.m. May 19 to a residence in the 38000 block of Camp Creek Road, where they contacted and arrested Rowan Augustus Hockema.

Hockema was lodged at the Lane County Jail on two counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the First Degree and two counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the Second Degree.

Investigators said the case began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provided a cyber tip to the Lane County ICAC Task Force.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office said it received assistance during the investigation from the Oregon Department of Justice and the Lane County District Attorney’s Office.

Authorities said the arrest is part of an ongoing effort among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable community members.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional details have been released.