Man sentenced to 30 years for sex abuse

Man sentenced to 30 years for sex abuse

William Peckenpaugh convicted for sexually abusing adopted Romanian boy

CARA ROBERTS MUREZ
December 21

SALEM – A man who sexually abused for four years the young boy he adopted from Romania was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in prison.

William D. Peckenpaugh, 38, of Silverton pleaded guilty to 33 charges, including nine counts of sodomy and three counts of sexual abuse.

“The nature of your offense and the multitude of our offenses over the long period of time and the violation of trust are repulsive,” said Judge Jamese Rhoades.

Deputy District Attorney Darin Tweedt said the abuse started within weeks after Peckenpaugh brought the child home from Romania. Tweedt said he believes Peckenpaugh adopted the boy to be a sex toy.

Tweedt had asked for a sentence of 60 years in prison.

“The sentence is not sufficient to protect the community in my opinion,” Tweedt said afterward. “I recommended the sentence I did to ensure that the defendant does not have the opportunity ever again to hurt a child like he hurt (this child.)”

Defense Attorney Paul Ferder said Peckenpaugh’s family see him as an articulate man who has done a lot of positive things in his life.

“He loves his son. His son, I think, I loves him,” Ferder said. “Obviously something went awry, grossly awry, and Mr. Peckenpaugh has to pay the penalty.”

Peckenpaugh also made comments, but most of them were unintelligible as he spoke with a hoarse voice.

“In spite of what Mr. Tweedt has just said, I know in my own heart that I did not adopt a sex toy,” Peckenpaugh said.

The child has been in foster care since he was removed from the home after the Marion County Sheriff’s Office began investigating in November 2004.

The investigation began after a sexually graphic video of a man and a young boy was discovered in a camera that had been returned to Fry’s Electronics in Wilsonville.