Area school district employee arrested on federal child pornography charge

PORTLAND, Ore. – Federal and local investigators are seeking the public’s help to identify additional possible underage victims following Friday afternoon’s arrest on a federal child pornography charge of a Portland-area school district employee who worked with special needs students. 

James McGlothlin, 39, of Portland, is charged in a criminal complaint with one count of producing child pornography. He is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court Monday. The prosecution will be handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

Prior to his suspension Feb. 16, McGlothlin worked with a small number of developmentally disabled children as an adaptive physical education instructional assistant for the Oregon City School District. The school district, which placed McGlothlin on leave immediately after learning of the allegation, is cooperating fully with law enforcement.

Friday’s arrest is the result of an ongoing investigation by the Interagency Child Exploitation Proactive Task Force (INTERCEPT), which includes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the sheriff’s departments of Clackamas and Multnomah counties; and the Oregon State Police. Additionally, the Digital Evidence Cybercrime Unit (DECU), made up of investigators from the Vancouver Police Department and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, has provided substantial assistance with the case. 

McGlothlin’s arrest came just two days after Task Force investigators executed a search warrant at his Portland home, seizing laptop computers and other items related to the ongoing investigation, including external hard drives, thumb drives, cell phones, and digital cameras. According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, a forensic examination of McGlothlin’s computers revealed sexually explicit images and videos of infants, along with essays where the defendant allegedly discusses drugging and sexually abusing young children.

The investigation surrounding McGlothlin is continuing and authorities believe there may be unidentified minor victims. Members of the public who have information that may be relevant to the case are urged to contact the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office tip line at (503) 723-4949.