Eugene, OR – Two men have been sentenced in separate Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigations led by the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, officials announced this week.
According to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, detectives working with Oregon State Police served a search warrant on January 30 in the 900 block of W. 1st Avenue in Junction City. Ralph Anthony Pocza, 41, was arrested and lodged in the Lane County Jail on multiple counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse.
Pocza later pleaded guilty on December 5 to five counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the First Degree. He was sentenced to 86 months in the Oregon Department of Corrections.
In a separate case, on February 6, detectives executed a search warrant in the 1000 block of Cinnamon Avenue in Eugene, leading to the arrest of James Watson Gilbert, 42. He faced multiple counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse.
Gilbert pleaded guilty on December 15 to ten counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the First Degree. He received a sentence of 108 months in the Oregon Department of Corrections.
The Sheriff’s Office credited multiple agencies for their support, including the Springfield Police Department, Eugene Police Department, Lane County District Attorney’s Office, Oregon State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Authorities say these convictions stem from an ongoing collaborative effort by local, state, and federal partners to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable community members.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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