La Pine-area man held on $1 million bail, accused of sharing child sexual abuse images online, some of local 16-year-old
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127 marijuana plants, six guns also found in raid on Levi Witsoe's home
La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Bail has been set at $1 million for a La Pine-area man facing 20 counts of encouraging child sexual abuse, a year after a cyber-tip to Deschutes County sheriff's deputies of images being shared online - some identified as a local teen girl. A later raid on his home also found over 100 marijuana plants.
In January of 2024, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Internet Crimes Against Children unit received an ICAC Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Sergeant Thomas Lilienthal said in a news release Thursday, which continues below in full:
This Cybertip detailed an unknown user who shared an image of child sexual abuse material on the chat application Kik within Deschutes County. Through multiple search warrants and subpoenas, the ICAC unit was able to identify the user as Levi Jameson Witsoe, now 35.
While conducting surveillance operations, the ICAC unit identified information consistent with Witsoe being involved in an illegal marijuana operation and contacted the Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement (DCIMME) team for assistance. DCIMME began to investigate and develop information on Witsoe over the next several months.
In August of 2024, a joint search warrant operation was conducted in the 52000 Block of Ranch Drive near La Pine for Witsoe. This joint operation was conducted by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office ICAC unit, Oregon State Police ICAC unit, Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement team, Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team (CODE), Federal Bureau of Investigation and Deschutes County Detectives Unit, Street Crimes Unit, and Digital Forensics Unit.
During this search warrant, 127 marijuana plants in various stages of growth were located and seized, in addition to six firearms, U.S. currency, packaging and shipping material, and several large totes full of marijuana seeds in various stages of packaging. ICAC detectives also seized digital devices belonging to Witsoe to continue with their investigation.
Several search warrants were obtained for the seized digital devices, as well as for data from online accounts operated by Witsoe that were discovered during the analysis of those devices. Digital Forensics Detectives located a large number of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of a child. This child was identified a 16-year-old female juvenile who resides in Deschutes County. The Oregon Department of Human Services was contacted and assisted with ensuring that the child was safe.
Upon the completion of the analysis of Witsoe's digital devices and data from his online accounts, Witsoe was indicted on the listed Child Sex Abuse charges on Jan. 16. Witsoe turned himself into the Deschutes County Adult Jail on Jan. 22 without incident.
The Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement (DCIMME) program is a partnership between the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE), and the Deschutes County District Attorney's Office to address illegal marijuana activity in Deschutes County.
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Court records show Witsoe was indicted Jan. 17 on 20 charges of encouraging child sexual abuse, 10 first-degree counts, which a Class B felony, and 10 second-degree counts, a Class C felony.
Witsoe was arraigned on the indictment on Jan. 23 and remains held at the county jail on $1 million bail. A plea hearing has been set for Feb. 5.
Lilienthal said Witsoe also was arrested on felony charges of illegal marijuana manufacture and importing or exporting marijuana items. Court records show he was indicted last October on those charges and also is set to enter a plea to those on Feb. 5.