Dangerous Child Sexual Predator Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison

PORTLAND, Ore. – On Thursday, October 19, U.S. Senior District Judge Anna J. Brown sentenced Jose Antonio Mejia, 33, of Woodburn, Oregon, to 15 years in federal prison followed by lifetime supervised release and sex offender registration. Mejia previously plead guilty to a federal Indictment charging him with Transportation of a Minor Across State Lines with the Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity.

Investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local authorities revealed that, in March 2016, Mejia transported two minors—including one who was under the age of 12—from Oregon to Washington, without their parents’ permission.  Once there, Mejia attempted to rape the younger minor.  The following day, Mejia returned the minors to their parents and the younger minor subsequently disclosed Mejia’s abuse.  A federal grand jury in Portland indicted Mejia on Attempted Aggravated Sexual Assault and Travel with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity.  Following his arrest, Mejia has remained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service. 

At sentencing, prosecutors noted Mejia’s “shockingly heinous” conduct, and urged that it “must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.” Prosecutors noted that Mejia chose a particularly young and vulnerable victim, who he sought to isolate and, having done so, attempted to rape. 

“This sentence represents another step in our continuing efforts to protect children in Oregon and elsewhere from sexual predators. These abhorrent crimes are indefensible and destructive to victims.” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “I remain grateful for the dedication and collaboration of our federal, state, and local partners who diligently followed the evidence in this case.” Williams added, “I am also grateful for the amazing courage that the minor victims in this case showed in coming forward.  Thanks to their bravery, a dangerous criminal will remain behind bars for a very long time.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Salem Police Department, Seattle (Washington) Police Department, and Woodburn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Sinha prosecuted the case in federal court.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice and led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.