Portland teen sentenced to five years after stabbing man accused of sending child abuse videos
A 19-year-old from Portland received a five-year prison term for stabbing a 46-year-old man he met on a dating app, claiming the victim had sent him child-sex-abuse videos.
On August 11, 2025, 19-year-old Elijah Cruz Valenzuela drove a knife into the chest of 46-year-old Joshua Field at Field’s downtown Portland residence after the two connected on the dating app Sniffles. Valenzuela reported that Field had sent him videos depicting child sexual abuse, which moderators allegedly removed quickly. After the stabbing, Valenzuela called 911, surrendered to police, and declared, “I stabbed a pedophile.”
He entered a guilty plea to first-degree assault and first-degree burglary and was sentenced to five years in prison. Valenzuela, who previously had a clean record and claimed to be a victim of childhood sexual assault, said he only meant to beat Field up. Field survived the wound; earlier investigations in Oregon had been closed for lack of evidence, but California prosecutors later charged him with possession of child-sex-abuse material.
His attorney, Stuart Kirchick, denied the allegations. The case highlights ongoing concerns about illegal content on dating platforms and vigilante responses.
Why it matters
The case underscores risks of illegal content on dating apps and raises questions about vigilante justice versus due process.
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