EUGENE, Ore. — Authorities in Lane County arrested two men on multiple child exploitation charges after serving search warrants at two residences on Thursday.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) and Oregon State Police detectives executed the warrants, first at a home on W. 1st Avenue in Junction City, where they arrested 41-year-old Ralph Anthony Pocza. Pocza faces 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 1st Degree and 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 2nd Degree. He was booked into the Lane County Jail.
The investigation then led authorities to a second residence in the 26800 block of Petzold Road, southwest of Eugene, where 60-year-old Gregory John Shepherd was arrested. Like Pocza, Shepherd is charged with 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 1st Degree and 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 2nd Degree. He was also lodged at the Lane County Jail.
Both arrests were the result of separate, ongoing investigations by the Lane County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which focuses on identifying and prosecuting child exploitation offenses. The charges stem from the possession of child pornography.
Detectives confirmed that, at this time, there is no indication that local victims are involved in the cases. The investigation remains active.
The operation saw cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Oregon Department of Justice.
A statement from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that these arrests are part of a broader, continuing effort to combat child exploitation and safeguard the community’s most vulnerable members. The investigation into both suspects is ongoing, and authorities have pledged to provide updates as more information becomes available.
