PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A former Portland-based swimming instructor and special-physical education instructor in Oregon City was sentenced to 28 years in prison and a life-term of supervised release for child pornography production involving two very young children, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced on Monday.
James Ian McGlothlin, 41, was first arrested in February, 2016, after federal agents served a search warrant at his home where investigators found “thousands of files containing child pornography, including videos and images McGlothlin created himself,” the release said.
Billy J. Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, said in the release that producing child pornography is “an appalling crime.”
“It is unthinkable that someone would prey upon infants, toddlers, and disabled children, yet that is exactly what James McGlothlin did,” Williams said. “He was supposed to be safeguarding his victims, but he took advantage of them instead for his own sexual gratification.”
“Hopefully, this sentence will help ensure that McGlothlin will not be in a position to sexually abuse children again.”
According to a federal criminal affidavit filed by Homeland Security Agent Glenn Dimmick in 2016, agents found laptop computers, hard drives, thumb drives, CDs, cell phones, a JVC camcorder, an iPad, and digital camera. During their search, agents found a laptop that was “open and running” from a work area in the garage.
McGlothlin’s wife told investigators that the laptop belonged to her husband.
During the initial search, a federal computer forensic agent found images of suspected child pornography on the laptop.
The affidavit also states that during the search, agents found the following items inside a locked filing cabinet next to the laptop in the garage:
- A bottle of children’s Benadryl allergy medicine
- A latex cast of a child’s hand (with suspected pubic hair on it)
- Eleven pairs of children’s underpants (some of which appeared to have been worn)
- Children’s swimsuits
- Various digital media
- Two photographs of young, prepubescent girls
Agents also found “a short essay” on McGlothlin’s laptop computer “in which McGlothlin graphically relives the sexual abuse of the infant depicted” in the video just mentioned. McGlothlin “finishes the essay by expressing his desire to escalate the sexual abuse of the infant.”
In another essay, McGlothlin writes that he plans to “babysit” 3 children and that his plans “include drugging the two older children with Benadryl so he can sexually abuse one of the children.”
The affidavit includes a graphic account of McGlothlin’s alleged plan to take photos and videos of the child.
In another essay, McGlothlin details his sexual abuse of a developmentally disabled 12-year-old who was in his care. The child, records show, was in his swim therapy class.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office also wanted to provide information on where to report any suspected child predators or suspicious activity.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.
Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.