Kenneth Lewis Barrett was the Republican mayor of Winston, Oregon. He was caught in one of those stings where police officers pretend to be a minor child on Facebook. He thought he was arranging to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex, but was instead arrested. When arrested, he was charged with online sexual corruption of a minor. he was also charged with unlawful possession and concealment of firearms.
After a trial, he was found guilty despite his argument that the sting was entrapment. He talked of taking it all the way to the Supreme Court. At sentencing, his lawyer argued for probation but the prosecutor played some jailhouse recordings that showed he had no remorse, despite his statements to the contrary. He was sentenced to sixteen months.
The judge, William Marshall expressed concerns that Barrett had opened another Facebook account under a pseudonym while his trial was still pending. He noted that many of Barrett’s new friends were “young females.” He also noted that Barrett was trying to con him.
- KCBY: Winston mayor arrested, charged with online sexual corruption of minor
- KCBY: Former Winston mayor jailed, found guilty of online sexual corruption of child
- The News Review: Former Winston mayor Ken Barrett sentenced to 16 months in prison for sex charges
Salem, Oregon · Sunday, April 22, 2018