A Washington man has been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for setting up an online messaging group called “Unholy girls” made up of young girls he met through social media and grooming them to share sexually explicit videos and photos of themselves.
Jakob Joshua Stickney, 26, of Battle Ground pleaded guilty in December to coercion and enticement of a minor and sexual exploitation of children.
In U.S. District Court in Portland, Judge Adrienne Nelson on Wednesday sentenced Stickney to 20 years and six months, adopting the term jointly recommended by the prosecutor and defense lawyer.
Stickney pretended to be a 17-year-old when he befriended girls online and convinced them to share graphic photos and videos in his Discord instant messaging group. His victims ranged in age from 10 to 13.
In September 2023, he convinced one girl to sneak out of her Portland house while he parked his van outside and waited for her to meet him.
The girl’s mother intervened and threatened Stickney, getting a partial license plate on his van before he fled, according to court records.
But it was a tip to the National Center for Missing and Endangered Children in the next month that helped police identify Stickney through an email address connected to his online “Unholy” handle, according to records.
Stickney also was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to three victims and face a lifetime term of federal supervision following his release from prison.
©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit oregonlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
