Klamath Falls man sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for encouraging child sex abuse

The following is a press release from the Klamath County District Attorney’s Office.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - On Tuesday, the Klamath County District Attorney’s Office announced that Scott Loraditch received a 3½-year prison sentence for viewing child sex abuse material (CSAM).  He pleaded guilty to 4 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the Second Degree.

Mr. Loraditch appeared today in front of The Honorable Judge Stephan Hedlund and pleaded guilty to 4 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the Second Degree admitting that between December 9, 2020 and December 15, 2021 he viewed images of children being sexually abused for his own sexual gratification.

“Images like that ones that the defendant was using for his own pleasure show children on the worst days of their lives as they are being subject to sexual abuse, often by the very people who are supposed to be protecting them.” said Sr. Assistant Attorney General Elijah C. Michalowski, who prosecuted this case. “They are revictimized every time some views those images.”

The Klamath County District Attorney’s Office would like to recognize members of the Klamath Falls Police Department, including the lead investigator, Detective Labeads Yahwhee for their dedicated and expert efforts assisting throughout this case.  The District Attorney’s Office would also like to thank the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Medford for assisted with the examination of the digital evidence this investigation.

This investigation began with a tip from the public.  The proliferation of CSAM online is a growing problem in our community and around the country.  The Klamath County District Attorney’s Office encourages anyone has information about the production, distribution or use of CSAM to report it to local police or to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) via the CyberTipline at https://report.cybertip.org/ or 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

The Klamath County District Attorney’s office is currently being managed by Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, through Senior Assistant Attorney General John Casalino of the Criminal Justice Division of the Oregon Department of Justice. The Criminal Justice Division provides investigation, prosecution, training and legal services to support Oregon’s District Attorney offices and law enforcement agencies. Assistants Attorney Generals from this Division travel to local communities and prosecute crimes throughout Oregon to make all Oregon counties safer.