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The former Democrat mayor of Beaverton, Oregon, a supporter of President Joe Biden, has been charged with possession of child pornography.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced the charges in a press release last week in which it said the former mayor knowingly and unlawfully “possessed digital material containing child pornography, including images depicting minors under twelve” between the dates of November 2014-December 2015, KGW8 reported.
He was the mayor of Beaverton from 2009-2020 and was spotted at a fundraiser for President Biden in 2019.
Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle walking to today’s @JoeBiden fundraiser with Jordan Schnitzer. @KGWNews pic.twitter.com/79DhutgoA3
— Brittany Falkers (@BrittanyFalkers) November 16, 2019
Current Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty, a progressive who defeated Doyle, said she was “shocked” by the news.
“I stand with all children and those who find themselves exploited,” she said to KOIN. “We elect leaders with the expectation that they will serve, protect, and advocate for our children, families, and our communities. The charges against former Mayor Doyle are deeply concerning. The City of Beaverton is aware of the situation.”
“Dennis ‘Denny’ Doyle, the former mayor of Beaverton, Oregon, is facing federal charges for illegally possessing child pornography,” The Department of Justice said in a press release.
“Doyle, 73, a Beaverton resident, has been charged by criminal information with one count of possession of child pornography.
“According to the information, between November 2014 and December 2015, Doyle is alleged to have knowingly and unlawfully possessed digital material containing child pornography, including images depicting minors under twelve,” the press release said.
“Doyle will make his first appearance in federal court today.
“If convicted, Doyle faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and a life term of supervised release,” it said.
“U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
“This case was investigated by FBI Portland’s Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF). It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon,” the DOJ said.
“A criminal information is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse,” it said.
He pleaded not guilty to one count of possession of child pornography during court proceedings on Friday.
A two-day trial was scheduled for May 10, 2022. The court did not detain him but he has been ordered to not have contact with any minors.
Oregon Live reported:
A criminal information filed in court alleges Doyle possessed digital material containing child pornography, including images depicting minors under 12, between November 2014 and continuing through December 2015.
The charges stem from an old computer thumb drive containing the alleged pornography and other personal material belonging to Doyle that was turned over to authorities, according to a source familiar with the investigation.
Doyle was ordered to have no direct or indirect contact with anyone under the age of 18 while he remains out of custody pending trial. That includes his grandchildren, who are between the ages of 5 and 14, unless he gets permission from a pretrial supervision officer. If any visits are permitted with his grandchildren, they’ll likely be supervised, Wight said.
Further, Doyle was ordered not to use or possess any computer or electronic media, including cell phones, with internet access, without prior approval, and allow random or regular monitoring of his computer use. He also was ordered not to affiliate with any organization or volunteer group that would put him in contact with anyone under age 18.
The former mayor faces as many as two decades in prison and a $250,000 fine if he is convicted.
