PORTLAND, Ore. — Editor's note: This story contains discussions of sexual assault involving children that some people may find difficult to read.
A former Portland resident was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison on Tuesday for sexually abusing multiple children — as well as taking video and photos of the abuse and posting them on a private Snapchat page used to lure other children to share sexually explicit images of themselves.
In 2019, Rolando Daniel Benitez, 30, pretended to be a 15-year-old boy named "Marcos," and sexually abused a 14 and 17-year-old, according to court documents. Benitez used his cell phone to video record and take photos of the abuse, which he posted to Snapchat. In at least one of the photos posted, Benitez wrote his online alias "Marcos" with black ink on one of the children's bodies.
While the investigation was pending, Benitez moved to Washington and continued to use his Snapchat to lure other children. According to the news release, he only allowed girls to join and view his private Snapchat stories, only after the girls complied with Benitez "rules" by sending him nude photos. In some cases, he required the girls to write and take photos of his alias "Marcos" written on their bodies.
A tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline by one of the victims prompted another investigation to be opened. She told authorities to “please stop this man" and gave them Benitez full name and contact information.
Less than a month later, Benitez was arrested in Auburn, Washington, for sexually abusing a 12-year-old child he met on Snapchat, according to the news release.
In January 2021, he was charged in Oregon with producing, advertising, receiving, and possessing child pornography. Two years later, in October 2023, Benitez pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal information, two counts of sexually exploiting children and one count of possessing child pornography.
Prior to that, King County Superior Court in Washington charged Benitez to approximately 11 years in state prison and life-term community custody after his release for sexually abusing the 12-year-old child in Auburn.
The news release stated that Benitez’s federal plea agreement is part of a global resolution between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon and the King County. Benitez’s federal and state sentences will run concurrently.
If you or someone you know have experienced sexual assault and need support, help is available.
You can contact the Sexual Assault Resource Center, (503) 626-9100. They are located at 4900 SW Griffith Drive Ste. 135, Beaverton, OR 97005.
The Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN) National Sexual Assault Hotline can be reached at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or rainn.org. It is available 24/7.
