MCMINNVILLE, Ore. — Editor's note: The following contains descriptions of sex acts that may be considered graphic by some readers.
A deputy with the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office faces criminal charges and an internal affairs investigation after he allegedly posted videos of himself online engaging in solo sex acts — among other things — while at the station and in his patrol car.
Prosecutors filed charges against Deputy David Mills on Thursday. Charging documents show a total of 12 counts, including official misconduct, public indecency, disorderly conduct, and abuse of venerated objects.
According to court documents, Mills on several occasions exposed his genitals or masturbated either in the sheriff's office or in his patrol car, uploading videos of the acts online. In some cases he put his penis on a counter in the station, the documents claim. Prosecutors also allege that he ejaculated into someone else's water bottle and "allowed (them) to unknowingly drink from the tainted water bottle," financially benefiting from the online traffic.
The charging documents indicate that these acts happened on or around January 2022, and in April, May and August 2023.
According to a statement issued by YCSO on Friday evening, they first received a complaint on Sept. 1 that an employee in the "insignia and uniforms" of the agency had posted content online, some of it from areas not accessible to the public.
Members of the sheriff's office command staff were able to confirm that these images were publicly available online, and could constitute violations of internal YCSO and Yamhill County policy, the agency said. After consulting with the county district attorney's office, YCSO also determined that the content could be a violation of state law.
Deputy Mills was placed on leave that afternoon pending an investigation. Ultimately the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Benton County District Attorney's Office were brought in to handle the criminal investigation and prosecution, with the results of the investigation forward to prosecutors on Dec. 7.
"Due to the criminal investigation taking precedent, and the need to preserve any information obtained for purposes of any subsequent criminal prosecution, no internal affairs or human resources related investigation was initiated until the completion of the criminal investigation," YCSO said. "The criminal investigation was completed in a relatively quick timeframe, given that search warrants had to be obtained and served to large digital content platforms headquartered outside Oregon."
With the criminal investigation complete, YCSO said that it would begin the internal affairs investigation.
"While the filing of criminal charges is a very serious consideration for a law enforcement agency, we must be thorough and accurate in our response, follow the appropriate due process steps, and follow the applicable steps as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement," the agency added. "As law enforcement professionals, we understand it is our responsibility to live up to the standards and expectations placed upon us."
Mills is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment on Dec. 18. Court records specify that he is not in custody.
