Did You Know Robert Blacksmith from Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility?
Crew Janci Team on July 24, 2025 New Lawsuit Filed
Robert Blacksmith worked for the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) at Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility from the mid-1990s until 2006. During at least part of his time at OYA, Blacksmith worked on the overnight shift in the Chi Cottage.
In a recently filed lawsuit, Blacksmith is alleged to have abused a youth incarcerated at Hillcrest on multiple occasions. The abuse reportedly began when the youth was fifteen years old, around September 2001. According to the victim, Blacksmith would escort them into an “isolation room” before grabbing and groping their genitals aggressively. The abuse allegedly ceased around the spring of 2002, when the victim reported Blacksmith’s abuse to another staff member.
According to the lawsuit, in the fall of 2006, Blacksmith was fired from his position at OYA. Blacksmith was allegedly caught using the state computer system to find information about and contact a specific minor boy. In November 2006, criminal court records show that Blacksmith was charged with ten counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree in Marion County, Oregon. Blacksmith reportedly fled Oregon to evade these charges but was found in Pasadena, California, in possession of child sexual abuse material (child pornography) and arrested on additional criminal charges. In 2010, court records show that Blacksmith pled guilty and was convicted of all ten counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree; he was sentenced to 190 months’ incarceration at Oregon Department of Corrections.
Our team is working to help victims of sexual abuse within the Oregon Youth Authority. If you have information about sexual abuse of children within the Oregon Youth Authority, please contact us confidentially today. The experienced attorneys on our team have decades of experience representing victims of abuse. You can help victims of abuse and help make children today safer. Call 1-888-407-0224 or use our confidential contact form.
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In the News
Legal Action Against the Oregon Youth Authority
Crew Janci is representing survivors in a groundbreaking case that exposes abuse within Oregon’s youth correctional system. Explore recent news coverage and updates to learn how our legal action is shedding light on systemic failures and advancing justice for those harmed in state custody.
New Cases Filed – July 24, 2025
Three new OYA staffers named in lawsuits as 17 more victims sue state for child sexual abuse.
- Suits publicly allege abuse by long-time OYA staffers Scott Scrabeck, Robert blacksmith, and Alex Blevins
- Meanwhile, 12 more victims of “Dr. Cold Fingers” also file suit (now totaling 51), with more to come
- State now facing more than $275 million in liability
- Victims’ lawyers say “culture of indifference allowed predators to thrive”
Read the full press release for cases filed July 24, 2025
Read more about Crew Janci’s lawsuit filed in March 2025
Case Coverage
- 17 more plaintiffs allege sexual abuse at Oregon Youth Authority facilities – Salem Statesman Journal
- More lawsuits lodged against Oregon Youth Authority accusing staff of sexual assault – OPB
- Three new OYA staffers named in ongoing allegations of sex abuse at youth facility – KOIN
- 17 more victims sue Oregon Youth Authority over alleged sexual abuse by staffers, doctor – KGW8
- New sexual abuse lawsuits filed against 3 former Oregon youth prison staff – The Oregonian
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