FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — A 54-year-old Oregon man will spend the next eight years in state prison for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl from Fresno he met online.
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office says James Ellis was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to oral copulation of a child under 14 and sexual penetration of a child under 14.
Investigators say Ellis first contacted the girl through the dating app Grindr before moving their conversations to Snapchat.
Prosecutors say the conversations became sexually explicit, and Ellis exchanged sexually explicit images with the child before arranging to meet her in person.
Despite knowing her age, Ellis picked her up on Dec. 30, 2023, and drove her to an empty church parking lot within the City of Fresno, where he committed multiple sexual acts against her.
Concerned for her safety, the girl’s grandfather tracked her cellphone location and located the pair in Ellis’ truck.
Ellis left with the gir while being pursued by her grandfather before eventually directing the minor to get out of the truck, where she was safely picked up by her grandfather.
As part of his plea agreement, Ellis admitted the girl was particularly vulnerable and acknowledged that his actions showed a high degree of cruelty and callousness.
The girl shared that she continues to work through the trauma in therapy and simply wants “to be a happy girl again.”
Her grandparents wrote of the strength and resilience she has shown throughout her recovery and their hope that the conclusion of these criminal proceedings will allow their family to continue healing.
At Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, Ellis asked the court to grant him probation instead of sending him to prison.
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office opposed that request.
Senior Deputy District Attorney David Devencenzi argued that Ellis knowingly targeted a vulnerable child and reminded the court that a 12-year-old cannot legally consent to sexual activity.
Judge Stephanie Negin ultimately sentenced Ellis to eight years in state prison.
Prosecutors noted that Ellis could have faced up to 10 years and seven months behind bars.
After serving his sentence, Ellis will be required to register as a sex offender.
June is National Internet Safety Month, and prosecutors say this case serves as a reminder that online applications and social media platforms can be exploited by offenders to target and groom children.
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office encourages parents and guardians to remain actively involved in their children’s online activity, know what applications their children are using, discuss the dangers of communicating with strangers online, and maintain open and ongoing conversations about internet safety.
Parents are also encouraged to regularly review privacy settings, monitor online communications, and remind children never to meet in person with individuals they have met online without the knowledge and involvement of a trusted adult.