Marion Co. Dist. Attorney's Office

Emergency Messages as of 6:53 PM, Fri. Apr 17

No information currently posted.

Subscribe to receive FlashAlert messages from Marion Co. Dist. Attorney's Office.

Manage my existing Subscription

News Release

Jury Conviction Leads To 25 Year Prison Sentence In Child Kidnapping Case - 04/17/26

State of Oregon v. Elijah G. Arce

Marion County Circuit Court Case 25CR43807

Jury Conviction Leads to Prison Sentence in Child Kidnapping Case

 

Salem, OR – April 17, 2026 –  On April 17, 2026 Marion County Circuit Court Judge Jodie Bureta sentenced Elija G. Arce (age 49) to 300 months (25 years) in the Oregon Department of Corrections, and a life-time of post-prison supervision. He will be required to register as a sex offender.

 

Arce’s conviction is the result of a missing child incident that occurred on August 5, 2025.  The parents of the victim, a minor, reported her missing from their Northeast Salem home.  The defendant had lured the victim away and escorted her several blocks to a secluded area concealed by fencing and shrubbery.  Officers canvassed the neighborhood, and a bloodhound from Salem Police Department, named Trusty, was deployed.  A neighbor heard about the missing child and to help, began searching the area near the fairgrounds. He came upon where the defendant had hidden and saw the defendant with his arms around the child. He flagged down police officers and directed them to the hidden location. Officers climbed through a nearby cut in the fence, secured the child, and arrested the defendant.

 

The conviction followed unanimous guilty verdicts issued by a Marion County jury. Arce was convicted of Kidnapping in the First Degree, Kidnapping in the Second Degree, Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Attempted Rape in the First Degree, and Attempted Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine.

 

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Katharine Semple. She referred to it as “a parent’s worst nightmare.”

 

“DDA Semple is correct- this is every parent’s worst nightmare.  That’s why I’m grateful for community members who have so much care for the well-being of our children,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Brendan Murphy. “This type of criminal behavior is intolerable. We will continue to aggressively prosecute these types of crimes, and Judge Bureta’s sentence speaks to that violation.”

 

The Marion County DA’s Office wishes to acknowledge the swift and thorough investigation of the Salem Police Department, and particularly the actions of Detective Court Kirksey.  Additional gratitude is extended to the Keizer Police Department and the Oregon State Police for their respective roles in the search and for covering Salem Police calls for service while the search took place. 

 

Due to the involvement of a child victim, no additional details will be released.

####

Jury Conviction Leads To 25 Year Prison Sentence In Child Kidnapping Case - 04/17/26

State of Oregon v. Elijah G. Arce

Marion County Circuit Court Case 25CR43807

Jury Conviction Leads to Prison Sentence in Child Kidnapping Case

 

Salem, OR – April 17, 2026 –  On April 17, 2026 Marion County Circuit Court Judge Jodie Bureta sentenced Elija G. Arce (age 49) to 300 months (25 years) in the Oregon Department of Corrections, and a life-time of post-prison supervision. He will be required to register as a sex offender.

 

Arce’s conviction is the result of a missing child incident that occurred on August 5, 2025.  The parents of the victim, a minor, reported her missing from their Northeast Salem home.  The defendant had lured the victim away and escorted her several blocks to a secluded area concealed by fencing and shrubbery.  Officers canvassed the neighborhood, and a bloodhound from Salem Police Department, named Trusty, was deployed.  A neighbor heard about the missing child and to help, began searching the area near the fairgrounds. He came upon where the defendant had hidden and saw the defendant with his arms around the child. He flagged down police officers and directed them to the hidden location. Officers climbed through a nearby cut in the fence, secured the child, and arrested the defendant.

 

The conviction followed unanimous guilty verdicts issued by a Marion County jury. Arce was convicted of Kidnapping in the First Degree, Kidnapping in the Second Degree, Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Attempted Rape in the First Degree, and Attempted Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine.

 

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Katharine Semple. She referred to it as “a parent’s worst nightmare.”

 

“DDA Semple is correct- this is every parent’s worst nightmare.  That’s why I’m grateful for community members who have so much care for the well-being of our children,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Brendan Murphy. “This type of criminal behavior is intolerable. We will continue to aggressively prosecute these types of crimes, and Judge Bureta’s sentence speaks to that violation.”

 

The Marion County DA’s Office wishes to acknowledge the swift and thorough investigation of the Salem Police Department, and particularly the actions of Detective Court Kirksey.  Additional gratitude is extended to the Keizer Police Department and the Oregon State Police for their respective roles in the search and for covering Salem Police calls for service while the search took place. 

 

Due to the involvement of a child victim, no additional details will be released.

####