EUGENE, Ore. – A Eugene man was sentenced to 10 years in prison in late April after being convicted of obtaining and distributing files depicting the sexual abuse of children. The sentencing follows an investigation led by the Eugene Police Department, which began in June 2024 after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The investigation revealed that Bryan Bennion, 49, of Eugene, had been involved in the distribution of child sexual abuse material. Officers executed a search warrant for Bennion’s cell phone, uncovering multiple files that depicted the sexual abuse of children. According to the Lane County District Attorney’s Office, Bennion had downloaded the illicit material through links connected to a Telegram account and subsequently uploaded the files to an online cloud storage service.
Bennion was charged with nine counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse in June 2024. Following a thorough legal process, Bennion pleaded guilty to all charges on March 25, 2025. On April 25, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison, along with three years of post-prison supervision. Upon his release, Bennion will also be required to register as a sex offender.
This case underscores the crucial role that law enforcement agencies, in collaboration with organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, play in the ongoing fight against online child exploitation. It also highlights the evolving challenges posed by the digital age, where platforms like Telegram and cloud storage are sometimes misused to perpetuate these harmful activities.
Authorities continue to urge the public to report any suspected illegal activities related to child exploitation, as efforts to combat these crimes remain a top priority for law enforcement.
