HILLSBORO, Ore.- On July 31, 2019, Washington County Judge Charles Bailey found Geoffrey William Germano guilty of seven counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. This case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Andy Pulver.

In April of 2018, detectives with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office were alerted to an internet protocol (IP) address which was flagged as downloading and/or sharing a high number of known child pornography files through peer-to-peer file sharing networks. Investigators determined the activity dated back to March of 2016.

Through further investigation, detectives determined that the downloads were associated with a single installation of peer-to-peer file sharing software. The program was associated with a number of different IP addresses (consistent with a single computer being moved to various locations and using different internet connections to download child pornography). One of the IP addresses used to download child pornography was associated with the Beaverton School District. Germano was working as a teacher at Aloha High School at the time. Another IP address was identified to Germano’s personal address in Hillsboro.

Washington County Sheriff detectives executed a search warrant at Germano’s home. He was interviewed and admitted to downloading child pornography to his personal laptop. Investigators forensically analyzed Germano’s laptop and recovered several child pornography videos. Evidence discovered during the search suggested that Germano downloaded significantly more child pornography files than investigators were able to recover during their analysis. Germano told investigators he frequently deleted the files after downloading them. Germano also admitted that he brought the laptop to school with him but claimed he didn’t intentionally use the school’s WiFi to download the material.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the investigative work by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office on this case as well as the cooperation of the Beaverton School District in pursuing this matter.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 22, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. Germano remains out of custody pending sentencing.