EUGENE, Ore. – A Eugene man has been charged with multiple counts of encouraging child sexual abuse.

Richard Dallas Owens, 38, was arrested by Eugene Police after being investigated for child pornography. Police obtained a search warrant for his residence, which was served on Feb. 1. He was arrested later that day.

During the search of Owens’s residence, police say they found an extensive collection of child pornography. Police believe there may be local child and adult victims. 

Owens has posted bail and is scheduled to be in Lane County Circuit Court on March 10 for a pre-trial conference. He faces 10 counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse.

The charges accuse him of disseminating films showing sexually explicit conduct involving children, and disregarding the fact that creating such films involved child abuse.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call police at 541-682-5111 and reference case 21-01474.