A Washington man who accidentally gave digital photos of himself abusing a 5-year-old girl to the child's father will serve at least 25 years in prison.

Donald Wayne George, 64, of Oroville, Wash., was once married to the child's grandmother and stayed involved in the Tigard family even after his divorce, traveling to and from his Washington home to visit his ex-wife's son and children in Washington County.

George had photos of the father's children stored on the memory cards and, during a Thanksgiving visit, offered to let the father copy the files to his own computer.

Washington County Deputy District Attorney Paul Maloney said that George mindlessly handed memory cards to the father until he reached one card. George began to panic, saying, "No, no, no," as pornographic images of the man's 5-year-old daughter appeared on the screen.

The father erupted in anger at the sight of his young daughter in sexual poses and various sex acts with George.

Maloney said George responded flippantly, "Call the police, I'm going to jail."

George pleaded guilty Aug. 31 in Washington County Circuit Court to all of his eight charges, which included two counts each of first-degree sodomy, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree rape, stemming from incidents that began when the girl was 3 years old.

George has pending federal charges of production of child pornography and interstate travel with the intent to have sex with a child, U.S. Attorney Gary Sussman said. Under a plea deal, George will serve 25 years in federal prison for his crimes prosecuted in Washington County while he also serves his federal sentence.

The girl's father spoke at George's plea hearing, telling the court of the devastation George has caused his family and the selfishness George exercised when he carried out his own fantasies without consideration of the child's future.

"The possibilities of what goes through this man's mind is just chilling," he said.

The father said his daughter became elated the night George was arrested when her father told her she'd never have to see the man again. The girl is in therapy, her father said, and the family hopes she's able to put George's crimes out of her mind in time.

"From her first breath there was something unique about our child," he said. "I remember holding her in my arms ... and I promised her, I will do everything humanly possible to keep you safe. But I was unprepared for a man like Donald George."

Judge Gayle Nachtigal assured family members they are not responsible for the abuse the girl endured, and she told them to give her a chance to view herself as something other than a victim.

"She's going to get her cues as to who she is and how she fits into the world from you," Nachtigal said. "Stop beating yourself up, that's not going to get you anywhere."

--