Newberg man faces sex charges after Sisters arrest

A Newberg man was arrested Tuesday afternoon, July 15, by Oregon State Police (OSP) detectives on multiple counts involving sexual misconduct with a minor.

Investigation of Rodney Meade Pelling, 66, began on Sunday, July 13, when Deschutes County deputies investigated a report of suspicious activities involving Pelling and a minor female at a Sisters motel.

Pelling was arrested for three counts of Sex Abuse in the First Degree and 11 counts of Using a Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct, and he was lodged at Deschutes County Jail.

On the afternoon of July 15, OSP detectives, with the assistance of Yamhill County Sheriff's Office, Newberg Police Department, and Yamhill County District Attorney's Office, served a search warrant at Pelling's home in Newberg.

Working in conjunction with Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, investigators were at the Newberg residence Tuesday when Pelling arrived and was taken into custody on 67 counts of Using a Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct and one count of Sex Abuse in the First Degree.

A review by a Deschutes County sheriff detective revealed numerous sexually explicit images of a minor female on the suspect's laptop computer.

Pelling was lodged in the Yamhill County Jail. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact OSP Detective Patti Rhodes at (503) 731-3020 ext. 264.