Salem Man Sentenced for Paying to Livestream Child Sexual Abuse

The 44-year-old paid traffickers in the Philippines to abuse children as young as 3 years old.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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A 44-year-old Salem man was sentenced to over 21 years in prison for paying child sex traffickers in the Philippines to livestream the sexual abuse and exploitation of children as young as 3 years old. Steven Daniel Griswold paid between $20 to $40 for the livestreams, during which he gave the traffickers specific instructions on how to abuse the children.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing problem of online child sexual exploitation, where predators in the U.S. are fueling the abuse of vulnerable children globally. It also underscores the need for stronger international cooperation to combat human trafficking and the live-streaming of child abuse material.

The details

According to court documents, Griswold paid for the livestreamed 'shows' featuring the sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the Philippines over 2018 and 2019. After learning he was being investigated for uploading child sexual abuse material to Snapchat in an unrelated case, Griswold moved to the Philippines in 2020. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Portland in November 2023 and returned to the U.S. in March 2024 after being deported from the Philippines. Griswold pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children in November 2025.

  • In 2018 and 2019, Griswold paid for livestreamed child sexual abuse material.
  • In 2020, Griswold moved to the Philippines after learning he was under investigation.
  • On November 14, 2023, Griswold was indicted by a federal grand jury in Portland.
  • In March 2024, Griswold returned to the U.S. after being deported from the Philippines.
  • On November 5, 2025, Griswold pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children.

The players

Steven Daniel Griswold

A 44-year-old man from Salem, Oregon who paid child sex traffickers in the Philippines to livestream the sexual abuse and exploitation of children as young as 3 years old.

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What’s next

Griswold will serve a 262-month sentence in federal prison followed by a lifetime of probation. He was also ordered to pay a $12,000 special assessment.

The takeaway

This case underscores the need for stronger international cooperation to combat human trafficking and the live-streaming of child abuse material, as predators in the U.S. continue to fuel the exploitation of vulnerable children around the world.