Executive Summary
- Larry Lynn James Sr., 64, was arrested in Alturas, California, by U.S. Marshals.
- The suspect faces 10 counts related to encouraging child sexual abuse.
- The investigation began with a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
- Digital evidence was seized during a December 2023 search warrant in Central Point, Oregon.
A 64-year-old Central Point man is in custody following his arrest in California by the U.S. Marshals Service, ending a manhunt related to multiple charges of encouraging child sexual abuse. The arrest of Larry Lynn James Sr. on November 25 was the result of a coordinated effort by the Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force (PNVOTF) and local agencies, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities report that James faces severe felony charges, including six counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse and four counts of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. He is currently lodged in the Jackson County Jail. The operation to locate James spanned several jurisdictions, with Marshals tracking him from Central Point to Klamath Falls, Oregon, and ultimately to a rural area in Alturas, California. The PNVOTF executed a traffic stop in Alturas, where James was taken into custody without incident, assisted by the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office.
The criminal charges stem from a lengthy investigation led by the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET). Investigators served a search warrant on December 7, 2023, at a residence on the 6500 block of Blackwell Road in rural Central Point. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the warrant was obtained after authorities detected that numerous images of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) had been uploaded from the location. During the search, digital devices were seized and subsequently examined by the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force (SOHTCTF) to secure forensic evidence.
The investigation was initially triggered by a tip provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). This intelligence led to subpoenas and the subsequent search warrant which uncovered the alleged evidence of exploitation.
Investigative Outlook and Procedural Next Steps
This case highlights the critical role of inter-agency cooperation and federal resources in tracking suspects who attempt to evade law enforcement by crossing state lines. The involvement of the U.S. Marshals Service and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children demonstrates a robust, multi-tiered approach to combating digital child exploitation. As the case moves to the judicial phase, prosecutors will likely rely heavily on the forensic evidence obtained from the seized digital devices. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
