Portland man arrested, faces multiple child sex crimes charges

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- A Portland man is in custody and faces federal sex crimes charges after months of investigation, authorities said.

According to Portland police, the investigation began in March when they were contacted by a parent who said they had been contacted by a man on social media asking to buy nude images of her child.

During the initial investigation, detectives identified the suspect as Lyle G. Gage Jr., 55.

Over the course of several months, authorities said they obtained search warrants for Gage's devices where they uncovered numerous naked images of a seven-year-old girl as well as conversations with the girl's 16-year-old sister.

Detectives said they found out that the girls lived in Wyoming and contacted the local authorities to contact the girls and their mother.

It was later learned that Gage had been threatening the teen to coerce her into sending him hundreds of explicit videos over two years, authorities said.

On Monday, Gage was arrested on charges including sexual exploitation of children, receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor.

Authorities believe there could be other victims and they are asking anyone who thinks they could be a victim or who knows anything about the case to contact police.