Joint operation leads to arrest in child pornography case in La Grande 

LA GRANDE — (Release from the City of La Grande Police Department) On October 3^rd, 2024 at approximately 1000 hours, Michael Wiens (74) of La Grande was arrested and lodged  into the Union County Jail on (19) counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. 

In a successful coordinated effort, detectives from the La Grande Police Department, the Internet Crimes Against  Children (ICAC) Task Force, and the Oregon State Police executed a search warrant at Wiens’ residence located at  1106 B Avenue in La Grande on March 6, 2024. This operation, the culmination of a meticulous months-long  investigation, was aimed at addressing the unlawful possession of child pornography. 

During the operation, law enforcement officials seized over 37 items of evidence, including computers, hard  drives, external drives, and cell phones. These items were thoroughly analyzed by Special Agents with the ICAC  Task Force.  

Hundreds of images depicting child exploitation were recovered during the operation. However, it is important to  note that, at this time, there appear to be no local child victims associated with this case. 

Our partnership with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is instrumental in our efforts to tackle child  exploitation cases. We currently have (16) open cases related to the manufacturing and/or possession of child  pornography. By working closely with ICAC, our department remains steadfast in our commitment to combating  technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and Internet crimes against children. 

This operation underscores the dedication of local and state law enforcement agencies to protect children and  bring offenders to justice. The collaborative effort demonstrates a significant commitment to addressing and  preventing child exploitation. 

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A previous release from the LGPD regarding child phonography cases in La Grande can be found here

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