Former Beaverton, Oregon, Mayor Dennis “Denny” Doyle pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday for illegally possessing child pornography.
Doyle, 73, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography. He will be sentenced on January 24, 2023, by U.S. District Court Judge Michael Mosman, according to a news release from the District of Oregon U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“According to court documents, between November 2014 and December 2015, Doyle knowingly and unlawfully possessed digital media containing child pornography,” the Attorney’s Office stated.
“Several of the images Doyle possessed were of children under the age of 12 who had been identified as known sexually exploited minors by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC),” it added.
Doyle was charged in March regarding the incident that was investigated by the FBI Portland’s Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF).
Doyle’s guilty plea will make it illegal for the former mayor to own a firearm, vote, or hold public office. In Oregon, the ban from voting or holding public office will only apply during any time under incarceration.
He was ordered in March to have no contact with anyone under 18, according to a report by Oregon Live, including his own grandchildren, without permission from a pretrial supervision officer.
Doyle was also prohibited from using any computer or other device to access the internet without prior approval and regular monitoring and was further ordered not to affiliate with any organization that would put Doyle in contact with anyone under 18 years old.
Doyle remains out of custody and reportedly told the judge he is under counseling.
A single count of possession of child pornography includes one year and one day as the minimum prison sentence for a felony conviction, which the plea agreement filed in court plans to recommend.
The agreement will also include the request for a five-year term of supervised release following any time served, according to Oregon Live. The maximum penalty is up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Doyle was first elected mayor of Beaverton in 2008 and served in that role until his defeat during a runoff election in 2020. The former mayor previously served as a city councilor for Beaverton.
The former mayor also served as vice president of the Westside Timbers Soccer Club until March, when the club learned of the allegation, though the president of the club said he had no contact with children in the program, Oregon Live reported.
Doyle was arrested in 2002 for driving under the influence. The issue came up during his run for mayor in 2008, with Doyle claiming it was “a mistake I deeply regret.”