LA GRANDE — An Oregon man arrested in late 2020 for sexually abusing two teenage girls has been found guilty and convicted in Union County Court.

Travis Reed, 43, was pronounced guilty by Union County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Powers on 19 counts of sex crimes during a bench trial in July, according to Oregon public records. Reed was in a long-term relationship with the victims’ mother and they viewed him as a father figure, according to District Attorney Kelsie McDaniel.

“The evidence presented at trial showed that the defendant exploited that relationship, and over the period of several years, sexually abused both girls beginning around the time each girl was approximately 12 years old,” McDaniel said.

Neither victim was aware of the abuse that their sibling was being subjected to, McDaniel said, but the evidence showed that what each sister underwent was remarkably similar.

Powers convicted Reed on 12 felony charges, according to court records. These included four counts of first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of luring a minor, two counts of third-degree rape, three counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct.

Reed also was convicted on seven Class A misdemeanor charges — six counts of third-degree sexual abuse and one count of private indecency.

The court opted to merge two first-degree sexual abuse charges with one of the other counts of first-degree sexual abuse. Powers also dismissed two counts of third-degree sexual abuse.

Reed was represented by court appointed counsel — La Grande attorney J. Logan Joseph. McDaniel prosecuted the case for the state.

Both victims testified against Reed during the trial, according to McDaniel. One of the victims took the opportunity to address the court during sentencing.

“One word that I would use to describe how the crime has left me feeling, because it is rather difficult both mentally and emotionally to put it into words, is powerless,” she said. “He made me feel like a piece of meat. Like a helpless little lamb caught in barbed wire. I was blamed for tearing my family apart, called multiple names multiple times, and was in fear of what may happen to me if I were to walk out of my house.”

Powers sentenced Reed to 556 months with the Oregon Department of Corrections for his felony convictions, according to Oregon public records. The sentences will run consecutively.

The first-degree sexual abuse and using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct charges come with a mandatory minimum sentence under Measure 11. For these charges Reed may not be considered for any reduction in sentence or alternate incarceration.

Powers also sentenced Reed to 1,940 days in county jail, court records reported. The misdemeanor sentences run concurrently with the other sentences. Reed will receive credit for time served.

Upon release, Reed will undergo post-prison supervision, according to the court documents. He will be required to register as a sex offender and undergo sex offender treatment. He is ordered to have no contact with the victims.