In 2016, Detectives from the Redmond Police Department received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (N.C.M.E.C) and the Oregon Department of Justice’ Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force regarding sexually explicit material being sent and received to minors via Facebook and Instagram.
After a lengthy investigation, several victims were identified as living in the Redmond area. Based on a thorough investigation, a search warrant was obtained and served in Dallas, OR where the suspect lived on July 28, 2017. The suspect, Brandon H. Kautz, age 25 and a Dallas, Oregon, resident was contacted and arrested. Kautz was brought to Deschutes County where he was lodged in the Deschutes County jail on several charges. Charges include Encourage Child Sex Abuse in the First Degree, Luring a Minor, and Possession of Sexual Material of a Child in the First Degree.
Kautz used female aliases online to lure and encourage the exchange of sexually explicit material with his victims. The aliases used on Facebook and Instagram (that are known) “Bryttney Xievier” and “Elizabeth Pullock.” Victims were not only located in Redmond but several other States and involved minor boys. Detectives have been working with other agencies within and outside of Oregon.
The Redmond Police Department believes there may be other victims within the Deschutes County area. We would ask anyone knowing anything about these incidents or similar involvement with Brandon Kautz, or the aliases used, please report this incident to us through the non-emergency dispatch number at (541) 693-6911.
The Redmond Police Department wants our community to feel safe and would like to remind parents to be aware of any suspicious activity sent or received on their children’s devices, to include phone, computers, and tablets. Information and tips can be found on the Oregon Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children websites (links attached below).
The Redmond Police Department would like to thank the Dallas Police Department for their assistance with this investigation.
