Tessa M. Gorman, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington
A former U.S. Army soldier, Cameron James Taylor, has been sentenced to 87 months in prison for abusive sexual contact with a child. The sentencing took place in the U.S. District Court in Tacoma, as announced by U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Taylor, aged 49 and from Seattle, pleaded guilty in May 2024 and has remained in custody since then.
Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo presided over the sentencing hearing and remarked on the lasting impact of Taylor's actions on the victim, stating that the conduct may cause "lifetime torment." He also acknowledged the victim's resilience, noting that they "show courage to move on."
U.S. Attorney Gorman emphasized the seriousness of Taylor's actions: “This horrific conduct cannot go unpunished. Our work to protect children on our military bases is a priority in the Western District of Washington.” She further detailed how Taylor pressured a five-year-old child to conceal his abuse when questioned by adults.
Taylor left the Army in 2016 with an "Other than Honorable" discharge after being investigated for sexually assaulting an unconscious female in Germany and assaulting soldiers who attempted to arrest him. He resigned instead of facing a court-martial.
After returning to the United States, Taylor was convicted of sexually assaulting a five-year-old neighbor child in 2019, forcing them into inappropriate acts. In 2022, he received an 18-month sentence from King County Superior Court.
During investigations related to this case, other children under Taylor’s care were interviewed, revealing further allegations against him dating back to his time stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in 2012.
Prosecutors sought an eight-year sentence for Taylor due to his history of offenses and lack of empathy: “Taylor’s crimes reveal a man who lacks empathy and who prioritized his own pleasure over others’ pain.”
Following his prison term, Taylor must register as a sex offender and will be under supervised release for ten years as ordered by Chief Judge Estudillo.
The investigation involved collaboration between U.S. Army Criminal Investigations (CID), King County Sheriff’s Office, and FBI agents. Assistant United States Attorneys Hillary K. Stuart and Erika J. Evans prosecuted the case.
