David Painter, the former chair of the Central Point Citizen's Advisory Committee, is arrested outside his home Friday on Rabun Way in Central Point. Painter was one of five men arrested Friday by the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team joint inter-agency task force on felony charges of encouraging child sexual abuse. The arrests occurred in Medford, Central Point and Grants Pass.

Five men, including the former chair of the Central Point Citizen’s Advisory Committee, pleaded not guilty Monday in Jackson County Circuit Court to a combined 42 counts of encouraging child sexual abuse and other charges following months of law enforcement investigations.

The suspects, Steven Wesley Rambo, 60, of Medford; Michael David Robertson, 45, of Medford; David Anthony Price, 40, of Grants Pass; Mark Joseph Harding, 37, of Central Point; and David Michael Painter, 62, of Central Point, were arrested Friday. Their cases are not related, police said.

Painter, who resigned as chair of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee shortly after the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team raided his home in the 2500 block of Rabun Way in Central Point last September, was lodged in the Jackson County Jail Friday on 10 felony counts of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. He was held Monday on $10,000 bail.

Harding, 37, of Central Point, turned himself in at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in Central Point. He was later lodged in jail on 10 felony counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. Authorities had previously searched his former home in the 800 block of South Haskell Street in Central Point, where numerous child exploitation images had allegedly been uploaded. Harding was lodged in jail on $10,000 bail.

Rambo was arrested Friday as he left his home in the 60 block of Jeanette Avenue in Medford. Rambo was lodged in jail on nine felony counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse on $250,000 bail.

Price was arrested at his residence in the 1000 block of Morgan Lane in Grants Pass. He was lodged on 10 felony counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Police had previously searched his former home in the 700 block of North River Road in Rogue River, where numerous child exploitation images had allegedly been uploaded. Price was lodged in jail on $250,000 bail.

Robertson was arrested during a traffic stop in the 20 block of Washington Street in Medford. Robertson was lodged in jail on three felony counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse and 16 counts of first-degree invasion of personal privacy. The criminal counts stem from alleged evidence of child exploitation images and a hidden camera reportedly found in the bathroom of Robertson’s former residence in the 800 block of Forest Glen Drive, Central Point. Robertson was lodged in jail without bail. 

Robertson was approved for a court-appointed attorney Monday, while Harding, Painter and Rambo were denied, according to court records. It was not clear whether Price was approved for court-appointed counsel. 

Police said they believe that Robertson may have two additional child victims and Rambo may have more. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help if they have more information. A tip can be submitted on the sheriff’s department app or through the JCSO tip line at 541-774-8333.

“If you’ve been victimized by these two individuals … come forward,” said Aaron Lewis, public information officer for the sheriff’s office. “You’re not alone; sadly, there’s a lot of people being victimized in our area and the nation at large.”

Lewis said in an interview the arrests were part of a “sweep” by six local and federal law enforcement agencies that assisted the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team. 

“Obviously, (the defendants) are still going to see their day in court,” Lewis said. “The community needs to know there are people out there that are engaging in the trading, downloading and uploading of child pornography. We have a really dedicated team, and they are going to catch these people.”

The arrests were made after SOCET received tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. The tips led to subpoenas and search warrants, and investigators seized digital devices allegedly showing evidence of child exploitation. Once the investigations were complete, SOCET took each case to a grand jury for indictments.