A convicted Portland-area sex offender who advertised for teenage “models” on the popular Web site craigslist was arrested Tuesday for allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old girl, authorities said.

WCSO photo

Douglas Steven French

Douglas Steven French, 36, is being held in the Washington County Jail. French faces charges of sex abuse and using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct, said Sgt. David Thompson, spokesman for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

He said Washington County detectives learned that French had posted an advertisement on craigslist for "16 to 19-year-old models." The name given under the listing was "Premier Modeling."

The 17-year-old victim responded to French's add and over the past month, French had been meeting with her on a regular basis, Thompson said. During that time, French allegedly provided her with alcohol and illegal drugs.

“A preliminary investigation indicates that Mr. French took many sexually explicit photographs of the victim in his apartment, located at 12616 SW Barnes Road in Portland. Detectives have evidence of at least one more unnamed female victim and suspect there are more,” Thompson said.

French was arrested in 2004 after being found in Montana with missing Molalla, Ore. girl Cynthia Lamb, who was 16 at the time. Lamb had been missing for nine months. She met French online and had moved to Montana with him, according to Thompson.