Former Umatilla Tribal Police Officer Sentenced in Federal Court
Fenmore Craig, Jr. Had Previously Pled Guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact and Making False Statements to the FBI
| U.S. Attorney’s Office November 04, 2013 |
PORTLAND, OR—Fermore Joseph Craig, Jr., 44, of Pendleton, Oregon, was sentenced today to 30 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman. In August, Craig pled guilty to one count of abusive sexual contact and one count of making false statements to the FBI. Following today’s sentencing hearing, Craig turned himself in to the U.S. Marshals service to begin serving his prison term.
After Craig has completed his 30 months in prison, he was ordered to serve five years of federal supervised release. While on supervised release, Craig will be required to participate in a sex offender assessment and treatment program, and he will be prohibited from having any contact with the victim in the case. Craig’s conviction for abusive sexual contact will also require him to register as a sex offender.
“The victim in this case showed tremendous courage by speaking out against the police officer who sexually abused her,” stated U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall. “Fortunately, Mr. Craig is no longer in law enforcement and is now in prison.”
According to the prosecutor’s statements in court, on May 11, 2013, on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Craig touched the intimate parts of an adult female. Craig admitted that he intentionally touched the victim’s intimate parts to arouse and gratify his own sexual desire, and he did so without the victim’s permission.
When the victim subsequently disclosed the sexual abuse, the FBI and Oregon State Police initiated an investigation and interviewed Craig. On May 13, 2013, during an interview with an FBI special agent and an Oregon State Police trooper, Craig made false statements to the investigators by lying about the sexual contact he had with the victim.
Craig had been employed as a Umatilla Tribal Police officer for approximately 15 years, but he was not on duty as a police officer at the time the sexual abuse occurred. After the abuse was reported by the victim, Craig was immediately placed on administrative leave. Craig ultimately resigned from the Umatilla Tribal Police Department in June, while the investigation was ongoing. At today’s sentencing hearing, Craig relinquished his certification from the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, thereby terminating his right to be a police officer in the state of Oregon.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Pendleton Resident Agency and the Oregon State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Gabriel prosecuted the case.