In a time when it's easy to focus on the negatives, we at That Oregon Life want to pause and give a sincere thank you to the Lincoln City Police Department for doing what truly matters: protecting our children.
Over the past several months, Lincoln City officers have been hard at work conducting undercover investigations targeting adults attempting to lure children online. Officers posed as underage kids on various social media platforms. What they uncovered is nothing short of disturbing—and thankfully, it led to two arrests.
On May 14, 2025, Robert “Robbie” Powell, age 25 of Sheridan, was arrested after initiating sexually inappropriate conversations with what he thought were underage accounts. He even sent explicit images. Powell is now behind bars in the Lincoln County Jail, charged with Luring a Minor.
Just one week later, on May 21, 2025, Ravi Joseph Grant Bemis, age 36, was arrested for similar behavior—only his case was worse. Bemis not only sent explicit messages and images to decoy accounts, but also attempted to meet with a child for sex in Lincoln City. Though he currently resides in Sequim, Washington, Bemis was previously from Lincoln City. He faces two counts of Luring a Minor and Online Sexual Corruption of a Child in the 2nd Degree. He's now sitting in the Clallam County Jail, awaiting extradition back to Oregon.
This sting operation was a collaborative effort with help from the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office and Clallam County Sheriff’s Office in Washington. To all involved: thank you. You’re making a difference.
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Lincoln City Police also want to remind parents to monitor their children’s online activity and have ongoing conversations about the risks of talking to strangers on the internet. These investigations are part of a larger effort to protect kids from sexual predators and to ensure the safety of the community.
If you or someone you know may have additional information related to these cases, please call the Lincoln City Police Department at (541) 994-3636 and leave a message for Officer Z. Lane.
Once again, hats off to Lincoln City PD. You’re doing the hard work that deserves recognition. Let’s all stay alert, stay informed, and stand behind those working to keep our kids safe.
Source: Lincoln City Police Department / Facebook
