A 54-year-old Oregon man was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in state prison for the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl from Fresno he met online, the Fresno County District Attorney's Office announced.
James Ellis pleaded guilty to oral copulation of a child under 14 and sexual penetration of a child under 14. Investigators said Ellis first contacted the victim through the dating app Grindr before moving their conversations to Snapchat.
The exchanges quickly became sexually explicit, and Ellis sent and received explicit images with the child, despite knowing she was only 12.
On Dec. 30, 2023, Ellis arranged to meet the girl in person.
He picked her up and drove her to an empty church parking lot in Fresno, where he committed multiple sexual acts against her. The girl's grandfather, concerned for her safety, tracked her cellphone location and found the pair in Ellis' truck.
Ellis drove away with the girl while being pursued by the grandfather, but eventually ordered the minor to get out of the truck. She was safely picked up by her grandfather.
As part of his plea agreement, Ellis admitted the victim was particularly vulnerable and acknowledged that his actions showed a high degree of cruelty and callousness. At the sentencing hearing, Ellis asked the court to grant him probation instead of prison time.
Senior Deputy District Attorney David Devencenzi opposed that request, arguing that Ellis knowingly targeted a vulnerable child and reminding the court that a 12-year-old cannot legally consent to sexual activity.
Judge Stephanie Negin sentenced Ellis to eight years in state prison. Prosecutors noted he could have faced up to 10 years and seven months.
After serving his sentence, Ellis will be required to register as a sex offender.
June is National Internet Safety Month. The Fresno County District Attorney's Office said this case highlights how online applications and social media platforms can be exploited by offenders to target and groom children.
They urged parents to stay involved in their children's online activity, know what apps they use, discuss the dangers of communicating with strangers online, and maintain open conversations about internet safety. Parents are also encouraged to review privacy settings, monitor communications, and remind children never to meet in person with individuals they met online without a trusted adult's knowledge.