Warm Springs Man Charged with Aggravated Sexual Abuse of Two Young Children

A 34-year-old Warm Springs man has been charged with aggravated sexual abuse of two young children on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford announced. Jesse James Hicks was charged in a federal criminal complaint following an investigation into an incident last month.

According to court documents, officers with the Warm Springs Police Department responded to a reservation residence on Oct. 16, 2026, after receiving a report that a man was in a bedroom with two young children. A family member entered the room, observed Hicks with one of the children under concerning circumstances and alerted other relatives. During interviews with federal investigators, Hicks initially denied wrongdoing but later admitted to unlawful conduct involving one of the children.

U.S. Attorney Bradford, who serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the District of Oregon, emphasized the severity of the case.

“The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing and involve the exploitation of exceptionally vulnerable victims,” Bradford said. “Protecting children from sexual abuse remains one of our highest priorities. We will continue working alongside our Tribal, local and federal law enforcement partners to investigate these crimes and pursue justice for victims and their families.”

If convicted of aggravated sexual abuse, Hicks faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in federal prison and up to life imprisonment. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Warm Springs Police Department investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Unit for the District of Oregon.

A criminal complaint is an allegation of criminal conduct and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.