Incident Report: Gross Violation of Sustainable Development Goals in Douglas County

Executive Summary

An investigation by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has resulted in the arrest of two individuals, Daniel Roy Phelps, 40, and Terah Danyle Crawford, 39, in connection with severe acts of abuse against children and an animal. The alleged offenses represent a profound failure to uphold fundamental human rights and are in direct contravention of multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those aimed at protecting children, ensuring well-being, and promoting justice.

Violation of Core Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The circumstances of this case highlight critical breaches of the global commitment to sustainable development, specifically impacting the following goals:

• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): The alleged actions constitute extreme forms of violence, abuse, and exploitation against children, directly undermining Target 16.2.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The severe physical and psychological trauma inflicted upon the victims is a direct assault on their fundamental right to health and well-being.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): The documented abuse of an animal contravenes the principles of protecting terrestrial ecosystems and preventing cruelty.

Chronology of Institutional Response and Investigation

In alignment with SDG 16’s mandate for effective and just institutions, law enforcement and social services executed a coordinated response:

1. June 2024: The investigation was initiated after detectives identified a 5-year-old child, known to the suspect, in materials depicting child sexual abuse.
2. Investigation Period: Over a two-week period, detectives executed multiple search warrants to identify the primary suspect and the victim.
3. Inter-agency Collaboration: The DCSO partnered with the Oregon Department of Human Services to ensure the child victim was removed from further risk, a key action in upholding SDG 3 and SDG 16.
4. Discovery of Further Violations: The investigation uncovered evidence of a second child victim, approximately one year of age, and video evidence of animal abuse.
5. Arrests: Daniel Roy Phelps and his partner, Terah Danyle Crawford, were arrested and lodged at the Douglas County Jail for their alleged roles in the production of abusive material.

Charges Filed in Opposition to Global Development Principles

The formal charges reflect the severity of the violations against established legal and ethical standards, which are foundational to achieving the SDGs.

Subject: Daniel Roy Phelps

• First-degree sodomy
• First-degree sexual abuse
• Using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct
• Second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse
• Second-degree possession of materials depicting sexually explicit conduct
• Endangering the welfare of a minor
• Encouraging sexual abuse of an animal
• Sexual abuse of an animal

Subject: Terah Danyle Crawford

• Using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct
• Second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse
• Second-degree possession of materials depicting sexually explicit conduct

Call for Public Assistance to Uphold SDG 16

In the interest of ensuring comprehensive justice (Target 16.3) and identifying all potential victims, detectives believe other individuals may have been harmed. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with relevant information to contact the Investigations Division at 541-440-4458 to help ensure no victim is left behind.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The primary SDG addressed in the article is:

   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

     This goal is central to the article as it focuses on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. The article details a criminal case involving extreme violence against children and animals, the response of law enforcement, and the judicial process, all of which are core components of SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the content of the article, the following specific targets under SDG 16 can be identified:

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere

     The article directly addresses this target by reporting on severe forms of violence. The alleged acts of “first-degree sodomy,” “first-degree sexual abuse,” and “sexual abuse of an animal” are extreme examples of the violence this target aims to reduce.

   • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children

     This is the most relevant target. The article’s core subject is the “sexual abuse of two young children,” including a 5-year-old and a 1-year-old. The charges of “using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct” and “encouraging child sexual abuse” are explicit forms of child abuse, exploitation, and violence that this target seeks to eliminate.

   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and local levels and ensure equal access to justice for all

     The article illustrates the “rule of law” in action. The investigation by the “Douglas County Sheriff’s Office,” the serving of “several search warrants,” the arrest of the suspects, and the lodging of specific criminal charges demonstrate the functioning of the justice system to address crime and hold perpetrators accountable.

   • Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, in particular in developing countries, to build capacity at all levels for preventing violence and combating terrorism and crime

     The article highlights the role of local institutions in combating crime. The “Douglas County Sheriff’s Office” and the “Oregon Department of Human Services” are the institutions whose actions are detailed. Their collaborative work, where detectives “worked with the Oregon Department of Human Services to remove the child from any risk of further harm,” shows institutional capacity and cooperation to prevent further violence.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article contains several implied qualitative indicators that align with the official SDG indicators used to measure progress.

   • Indicators for Target 16.1 and 16.2

     The existence of victims of sexual violence (“two young children”) is a direct, albeit non-statistical, indicator related to measuring the prevalence of violence (Indicator 16.1.3: Proportion of population subjected to physical, psychological or sexual violence) and violence against children (Indicator 16.2.1: Proportion of children who experienced physical punishment and/or psychological aggression). The “video and images of the man sexually abusing two young children” serve as concrete evidence of the problem these targets aim to solve.

   • Indicators for Target 16.3

     The response of the justice system provides indicators of its functionality. The investigation, arrest, and filing of a list of specific charges (“First-degree sodomy,” “Using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct,” etc.) are indicators that the legal framework is being enforced. The fact that the suspects were “arrested and lodged at the Douglas County Jail” is an indicator of the criminal justice process in motion, related to Indicator 16.3.2 (Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population).

   • Indicators for Target 16.a

     The actions described in the article serve as qualitative indicators of institutional strength. The ability of the “Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division” to conduct an investigation, identify suspects, and make arrests indicates capacity to combat crime. The collaboration with the “Oregon Department of Human Services” to ensure child safety is an indicator of effective inter-agency cooperation to prevent violence.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators Identified in the Article
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.	The report of specific violent crimes, including “first-degree sodomy” and “sexual abuse of an animal.”
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.	The identification of two child victims (ages 5 and 1) of sexual abuse; charges of “using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct.”
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and local levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.	The process of investigation, serving search warrants, arresting suspects, and filing a list of specific criminal charges.
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions… for preventing violence and combating… crime.	The described actions of the “Douglas County Sheriff’s Office” and its collaboration with the “Oregon Department of Human Services” to protect a child victim.

Source: kptv.com