EUGENE — Lane County Sheriff’s Deputy Dylan Ford resigned from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) on Aug. 3 as an internal investigation continues regarding alleged inappropriate online relationships with minors outside of the country.
On June 29, LCSO received reports regarding Ford’s alleged inappropriate online relationships. In response, the sheriff’s office contacted an outside agency to conduct an independent investigation, and he was arrested on July 28, placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the conclusion of the investigation, and resigned on Aug. 3.
Ford, who had been employed with LCSO for about seven-and-a-half years, faces charges of actual and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, and receipt of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, Ford allegedly exchanged sexually explicit chats, images, and videos with multiple children under the age of 16. He used Telegram, an encrypted chat platform, and disappearing photo apps to begin conversations that would develop into sexual exchanges with the children.
Ford’s phone contained numerous conversations with self-described minors in which he enticed the children into sending him custom child sexual abuse material, including instructing specific sexual acts involving the use of household items.
Investigators also located a video depicting a distressed, crying minor carrying out various sexual acts. In some of the chats, Ford sent minors a colleague’s social media profile photo in an apparent effort to shield his identity.
The internal investigation will still proceed.
