News Releases

Convicted sex offender sentenced to 10 years on child pornography charges

PORTLAND, Ore. - A previously convicted sex offender was sentenced in federal court Wednesday morning to 10 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for possession of child pornography, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

David Lee Kemery, 55, of Portland, Ore., was convicted in Multnomah County Circuit Court of encouraging child sex abuse in the second degree in November 2003. At that time, he was in possession of child pornography.

He was sentenced to nine months in jail, four years of probation and required to register with as a sex offender. According to court records, Kemery completed his term of probation in November 2007.

ICE investigators learned that Kemery began collecting child pornography again, paying for subscription access to commercial child pornography web sites. In early March, investigators served a federal search warrant at a home he shared with relatives.

That search resulted in the seizure of two computers, which were found to contain more than 20,000 illegal images of child pornography. Investigators discovered handwritten notes pertaining to commercial child pornography Web sites and the login information for those sites.

The search also revealed newspaper articles on other cases where individuals had been charged with or convicted of child pornography offenses. ICE agents arrested Kemery March 30 on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography.

"This case illustrates the serious criminal offense that is committed when images of innocent children being sexually exploited are illegally collected and viewed," said Leigh Winchell, special agent in charge of ICE's Office of Investigation in Seattle. "ICE remains committed to investigating and identifying child predators so they can be brought to justice."

The Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, Kent Robinson, lauded the sentence imposed on Kemery and said, "By paying for access to commercial child pornography Web sites, offenders like Kemery fuel the demand for child pornography, and thereby promote the continuing sexual abuse of children."

This case is being investigated as part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to identify, investigate and arrest those who prey on children, including human traffickers, international sex tourists, Internet pornographers, and foreign national predators who crimes make them deportable. Launched in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested more than 11,600 individuals under Operation Predator.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.