A 53-year-old registered sex offender faces numerous charges after he reportedly drove from California to Clackamas County to engage a 17-year-old girl in sexual activity, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said.
Burke was arrested Tuesday afternoon, after deputies with the sheriff’s office were dispatched to investigate a report by a teenage girl who had called 911, concerned that her friend might be in trouble.
The girl had arrived at a residence near SE Thiessen Road and SE Webster Road in unincorporated Clackamas County near Oak Grove, in a white truck driven by a 53-year-old man.
A resident went out to speak with the man driving the truck — Burke — who claimed (falsely) to be the teen passenger’s grandfather. The 17-year-old girl got out of the white truck and the truck left the scene before deputies arrived to investigate.
However, deputies soon spotted the white truck nearby and conducted a traffic stop. Deputies said they soon determined Burke was a registered sex offender and not the teen passenger’s grandfather.
Burke had traveled from California to visit the 17-year-old several times, police said, after meeting her on a website called “Sugar Daddy Meet” in May. Burke and the teen then continued to communicate via SnapChat.
Burke admitted to having sexual contact with the teen victim, according to police. His phone allegedly contained evidence of this activity — as well as additional images of child pornography.
Burke under arrest and transported to the Clackamas County bail, where he remains as of Friday afternoon. His bail has been set at $500,000.
Burke’s truck was seized as evidence, and detectives from the Clackamas County Adult Sex Crimes Unit are investigating this case. Police are seeking additional victims in the case.
Anyone with information about Burke or his potential victims is urged to contact the sheriff’s office tip line at 503-723-4949 or online at www.clackamas.us/sheriff/tip. Please reference case no. 20-022080.