St. Helens Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Charges Against a Minor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 9, 2023

St. Helens, Ore. – On Wednesday, May 3, 2023, Kurtis Austin, 32, of St. Helens pleaded guilty to multiple sexual charges against a minor in a Columbia County courtroom. The guilty plea stems from a five-month investigation by St. Helens police detectives after receiving information that Austin reportedly had sexual contact with a 17-year-old minor in the St. Helens area. Austin was arrested on February 6, 2023.

After his arrest, St. Helens detectives executed search warrants and located multiple child pornography images of the 17-year-old victim in Austin’s possession.

The Columbia County District Attorney’s Office presented the case to a grand jury, and Austin was indicted on multiple charges. Austin pled guilty on May 3 to Attempted Using a Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct, Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse 2, two counts of Sexual Abuse 3, Unlawful Delivery of Marijuana, and Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor. Austin was sentenced to 190 days in jail and 36 months of probation. His probation includes conditions that he registers as a sex offender, has no contact with minors or be where minors congregate, and that he undergoes sex offender treatment. If he does not comply with the terms of his probation, the court has the option to send Austin to prison for up to three years.

St. Helens detectives were assisted in their investigation by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office.

St. Helens detectives encourage anyone with additional information related to Austin having contact with minors to contact Detective Gaston or Detective Smith at 503-397-3333.

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For further information regarding this press release, please contact Communications Officer Crystal King at cking@sthelensoregon.gov.