Oregon Man Imprisoned for Sexual Assault of 12-Year-Old Fresno Girl

An Oregon man who sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl he met through the dating app Grindr was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in state prison, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office announced.

James Ellis, 54, who also maintained a residence in Fresno, pleaded guilty to oral copulation of a child under 14 and sexual penetration of a child under 14. Fresno County Superior Court Judge Stephanie Negin imposed the sentence after denying Ellis’ request to be placed on probation.

As part of his plea, Ellis admitted two aggravating factors — that the victim was particularly vulnerable and that his conduct involved a high degree of cruelty, viciousness, or callousness. He had faced a maximum sentence of 10 years and seven months.

Man Knew Victim Was 12 Years Old

According to prosecutors, Ellis met the child on Grindr and later moved their communications to Snapchat, where he engaged her in sexually explicit conversations and exchanged explicit images before arranging to meet her in person, despite knowing she was 12 years old.

On December 30, 2023, Ellis picked up the girl and drove her to an empty church parking lot in Fresno, where he committed multiple sexual acts against her. The child’s grandfather, concerned for her safety, tracked her cellphone location and found the pair in Ellis’ truck. Ellis fled with the girl as the grandfather pursued them before eventually letting her out of the vehicle. She was safely recovered by her grandfather.

At sentencing, Senior Deputy District Attorney David Devencenzi argued that Ellis had knowingly targeted a vulnerable child and that a 12-year-old cannot legally consent to sexual activity. Devencenzi said the nature of the offenses, the lasting trauma inflicted on the victim, and the interests of public safety and deterrence required a prison sentence.

Family Hopes to Continue Healing

The victim and her grandparents did not appear in court but submitted written impact statements that were read into the record. The statements described fear, helplessness, and the emotional toll the assault has taken on the family. The victim wrote that she continues to work through trauma in therapy and wants “to be a happy girl again.” Her grandparents wrote of her strength and resilience, and expressed hope that the conclusion of the case would allow the family to continue healing.

The Fresno County DA’s Office, noting that June is National Internet Safety Month, used the case as a warning to parents about the dangers of online applications and social media platforms. Officials urged parents to monitor their children’s online activity, know what apps they are using, discuss the dangers of communicating with strangers online, and establish clear rules about meeting people in person.

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