SALEM, Ore. — A 73-year-old Salem man has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a child, marking his third felony sex crime conviction under Oregon law.
David Francis Wentz was sentenced June 16 by Marion County Circuit Court Judge Audrey Broyles to life in the Oregon Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to three counts of First-Degree Sexual Abuse in Marion County Circuit Court Case 26CR18956.
Because Wentz had previously been convicted twice of felony sex offenses, Oregon law under ORS 137.719 required a presumptive sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of release or parole.
According to prosecutors, the investigation began in January 2026 after the victim disclosed abuse that occurred during the spring of 2025.
Salem police detectives determined Wentz met the child through volunteer activities at a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post in Salem, where the child participated alongside local veterans.
Investigators said Wentz gradually became closely involved with the victim’s family, earning their trust over time. Prosecutors said he occasionally babysat the children, stayed home with them when they were sick, and provided financial assistance to the family, presenting himself as a caring and dependable adult before abusing that position of trust.
“Insidious manipulation like this is common in these types of cases. Often times offenders purposefully become ‘the kind of guy who wouldn’t do something like that,'” District Attorney-elect Brendan Murphy said in a statement. “We commend the victim for the tremendous courage it took to come forward and disclose the abuse. We are grateful to everyone who helped bring this case to justice, and this sentence reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s actions.”
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Katharine Semple.
The Marion County District Attorney’s Office credited Liberty House and the Salem Police Department for their work investigating the case, saying their efforts were instrumental in securing the conviction.
Due to the involvement of a child victim and the nature of the crimes, authorities said no additional details will be released.
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