Former Dem Mayor Pleads Guilty To Child Porn Charge

Former Democratic mayor of Beaverton, Oregon, Dennis “Denny” Doyle, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography this week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed.

Doyle, 73, possessed digital media containing child pornography, reports say.

The former Democratic mayor was in possession of images of children under age 12, who were known victims of sexual exploitation, the DOJ said.

Doyle’s sentencing is scheduled for January 2023.

The former mayor could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, a life term of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

When Doyle left the courtroom, he told reporters, “You know, we make mistakes,” Townhall reported.

He was charged with possessing the materials from November 2014 to December 2015.

The FBI Portland’s Child Exploitation Task Force was investigating the case and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

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Oregon Live reported:

Under the plea agreement, Doyle would also have to register as a sex offender.

The judge informed Doyle that he’s not bound by the recommendation.

Doyle waived an indictment and entered a plea to the single charge from a criminal information. By pleading guilty to the felony charge, he won’t be allowed to possess a firearm, vote or hold public office, the judge told him. In Oregon, though, his voting and public office restrictions are limited to his period of incarceration, according to state law. Oregon is one of 21 states where felons forfeit their voting rights or right to hold public office only while incarcerated and receive automatic restoration of those rights upon release, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Doyle was elected mayor of Beaverton in 2008, following 14 years on the city council. He left his position in January 2021.

Doyle was named Citizen of the Year by the Boy Scouts of America in 2008, recognized for his longtime community service and work with youth sports.

He also sat on the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District’s board and on school committees for Beaverton High School and Sexton Mountain Elementary School.

“Child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children,” the DOJ press release read.

“Not only do these images and videos document victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, child victims suffer re-victimization each time the image of their abuse is viewed.”