Bend man arrested on charges of abusing young girl, four years after police were tipped he might possess abuse material
(Update: Adding jail booking photo)
Police say there could be other young victims, seek info from public
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A police investigation of a 2020 tip that a Bend man might possess child sex abuse material did not lead to enough information to make an arrest, but an alleged sexual assault on an 8-year-old girl earlier this year has led to his arrest on several charges, officers said Thursday.
In November 2020, Bend police received the “CyberTip” from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding Christian Robert Kas possibly possessing child sex abuse material, Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said.
“Bend Police investigated the report through July 2021 but were unable to make progress due to a lack of information, and had to suspend the investigation,” Miller said.
In February of this year, an 8-year-old disclosed that she had been sexually assaulted by Kas, Miller said, and detectives reopened the 2020 case.
Detectives served a search warrant in March on Kas’s home in the 800 block of NE Eighth Street, seizing his digital devices, CDs and DVDs, as well as methamphetamine, children’s clothing and other evidence.
Kas, now 55, was arrested on Friday, Oct. 4 at the Bend Police Department on two counts of first-degree sexual abuse related to the girl’s assault, as well as three counts of second-degree encouraging child sex abuse related to evidence of child sex abuse material located on Kas’s devices, Miller said.
During the course of the investigation, Bend Police also determined other minor girls could be victims. Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact Deschutes County non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911
Kas was indicted Monday and arraigned Tuesday on the five Class B and C felony counts, court records show. The indictment claims the abuse occurred between July of last year and March of this year, and the possession of child abuse materials in March.
Judge Alycia Sykora allowed his continued release on 10% of $75,000 bail, pending a Nov. 27 plea hearing, under conditions including no contact with any minors or the alleged victim, and not possessing or using any digital device with internet access He may live with a person whose devices have internet access, if password-protected.
