A federal indictment was unsealed last month charging a Portland man with possessing and distributing child pornography — while awaiting trial in a state child sex abuse case.
According to court documents, 33-year-old Raphael Alberto Whitfield was arrested on February 8, 2021, after being indicted in Clackamas County Circuit Court on five counts of first-degree sexual abuse for allegedly abusing a child younger than 8. Whitfield posted bail and was released the next day.
Shortly thereafter, law enforcement in Oregon began investigating Whitfield’s use of Discord, an online instant messaging application, to send and receive child pornography. Search warrant returns showed that Whitfield had used the platform to distribute images depicting child sexual abuse as early as September 2020.
Law enforcement continued investigating Whitfield throughout much of 2021. These investigative efforts culminated in an October 2021 search of Whitfield’s person, car and residence.
Investigators seized two mobile phones, one of which was later found to contain more than 1,000 images depicting child sexual abuse, according to the U.S. attorney for Oregon. Many of these images were collected and saved while Whitfield was awaiting trial in Clackamas County.
On May 27, with the assistance of the Portland Police Bureau’s Special Emergency Reaction Team, the FBI executed an arrest warrant at Whitfield’s residence.
When agents knocked and announced their presence, Whitfield reportedly barricaded himself in the residence and attempted to take his own life by cutting his throat and wrist with a knife. He eventually exited the residence and was arrested and transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Whitfield made his initial appearance in federal court on May 31 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending a three-day jury trial scheduled to begin on August 2.
Possession and distribution of child pornography are each punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, a life term of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Additionally, distribution of child pornography carries a five-year mandatory minimum prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by FBI Portland’s Child Exploitation Task Force, with the assistance of the Portland Police Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mira Chernick is prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor.
Child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, child victims suffer re-victimization each time the image of their abuse is viewed.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
