September 25, 2020
PORTLAND, Ore. – Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced that 40-year-old Brett Cunningham is being charged for allegedly being in possession of and duplicating child pornography.
This investigation started in April 2020 when the Oregon Department of Justice received a cybertip from an internet company that discovered one of its users possibly uploading images of child pornography.
In May 2020, the Oregon Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a court-authorized search warrant and recovered electronic media that was then submitted for forensic evaluation.
During the investigation, law enforcement learned Cunningham is a licensed teacher in the State of Oregon and that he worked most recently at an elementary school in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Given Cunningham’s access to children, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office is requesting public assistance with this investigation. Anyone with information should contact Oregon Department of Justice Special Agent Tyler McCourt at 503-934-1107.
On September 21, 2020, a Multnomah County grand jury indicted Cunningham.
Cunningham is charged with two counts of encouraging child sexual abuse in the first degree and eight counts of encouraging child sexual abuse in the second degree.
None of the charges against Cunningham allege physical contact with a minor.
On September 24, 2020, Cunningham appeared by phone in Multnomah County Circuit Court for an arraignment. The state did not oppose the court authorizing Cunningham remain out of custody pending trial.
No additional information can be released by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office at this time.
A charging document is only an accusation of a crime. Cunningham is innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Media Contact:
Brent Weisberg, Communications Director
Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office
Email: Brent.Weisberg@nullmcda.us