TUALATIN -- A child-pornography investigation that began 18 months ago with the search of Tualatin Mayor Lou Ogden's home turned into a criminal case today as authorities arrested Ogden's roommate on 20 felony charges tied to possession of child pornography.
Law enforcement arrested William Dana Leverence, 48, at his Northeast Portland job site following his indictment this month by a Washington County grand jury. Authorities said Ogden did not know of the alleged criminal conduct until their Dec. 4, 2008, search. Leverence continued to live at Ogden's home through his arrest today.
Investigators from the Interagency Child Exploitation Prevention Team served a search warrant on Ogden's two-story Tualatin home 18 months ago, confiscating computer hard drives and at least two computers from a bedroom, said Washington County Detective Gary Wright, the lead investigator on the case. Authorities later performed a computer forensic analysis that uncovered images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, Wright said.
Leverence faces 20 charges of encouraging child sexual abuse in the first degree. He is scheduled for arraignment at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Washington County Circuit Court.
Ogden said today that he met Leverence about five years ago, after Ogden advertised a room for rent in his 2,021-square-foot home, which sits on a quiet, tree-lined cul-de-sac south of City Hall. Since his divorce about 15 years ago, Ogden has been renting out rooms in his four-bedroom home as a way to spread expenses, he said.
Ogden said he did not ask Leverence to move out after authorities searched his home. Ogden said he did not know of Leverence's arrest until contacted by a reporter......................
