North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Enticement of Oregon Minor

A 28-year-old North Carolina man has pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to coerce and entice a minor in Oregon to engage in unlawful sexual activity.

Sage Austin Miller, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford announced.

According to court documents, Miller used Snapchat on Sept. 23 and 24, 2024, to communicate with someone he believed was a 16-year-old girl living in Medford, Oregon. During the conversations, Miller attempted to persuade the purported minor to meet him for sexual activity. He later traveled to and arrived at a predetermined meeting location.

As part of his plea agreement, Miller admitted using an internet-connected cellular phone to communicate with someone he believed was under 18. He also acknowledged that his actions constituted a substantial step toward committing the offense.

Had the planned encounter occurred, the conduct would have violated Oregon’s Online Sexual Corruption of a Child in the First Degree statute.

Attempted coercion and enticement of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Miller also faces a potential fine of up to $250,000 and five years to life of supervised release.

Under the plea agreement, Miller agreed to forfeit electronic devices used in the offense, including two Apple iPhones and an Apple iPad.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith R. Harper of the District of Oregon is prosecuting the case.