A former police officer from Pendleton, Oregon has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for possessing child pornography on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Cameron Jacob Sheoships, aged 57, will also serve five years of supervised release following his sentence. The sentencing comes after Sheoships entered a guilty plea that included an enhancement for a pattern of repeated sexual abuse of a minor dating back to the 1990s.
The case against Sheoships began in August 2022 when the FBI received a tip about suspected child pornography linked to the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Eastern Oregon. By mid-September of the same year, further tips were connected to Google and Twitter accounts associated with Sheoships, who was identified as a former tribal police officer. In May 2023, federal search warrants were executed on his residence and person, leading to the discovery of numerous photos and videos depicting child sexual abuse on his cellphone.
A federal grand jury indicted Sheoships on June 13, 2023, charging him with possessing child pornography. He pleaded guilty to this charge on April 24, 2024.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and prosecuted by Cassady A. Adams, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Authorities encourage anyone with information regarding physical or online exploitation of children to contact the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Justice Department in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse across the nation. More information about this initiative can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.