A Coos County man, Dewayne Forrest, has been sentenced to over 162 years in prison following his conviction on nine counts of sexual abuse involving five children. The sentencing follows an investigation by the Oregon Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force.
The ICAC received cyber tips in 2021 regarding child sexual abuse materials linked to an online account associated with a phone number registered under Forrest's name. During a search warrant execution, Forrest admitted to previous investigations for child sex abuse dating back to the 1990s in Coos County, though he had not faced charges until now.
The agents conducted a detailed investigation into complaints spanning two decades. As a result, Forrest was charged with Rape, Sodomy, Unlawful Sexual Penetration, Sexual Abuse, and Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. The crimes involved children under 12 years old.
During the trial, five victims testified against Forrest, leading to a swift guilty verdict on all counts. Subsequently, Forrest entered guilty pleas to Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse.
“When our special agents learned this man had previously been investigated for sexually abusing children, they knew there was more to uncover,” said Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield. “Because they pushed forward – and because survivors came forward – this predator has been removed from the community for good. Without this investigation, there is no doubt in my mind that he would have continued to harm children.”
Forrest was sentenced on May 2, 2025, receiving a total of 1,955 months in prison. Authorities express concern about potential additional victims who have not yet been identified. Individuals with further information are encouraged to contact the ICAC task force at the Oregon Department of Justice via 503-934-2092.