Thomas Oliver Receives 30 Year Prison Sentence For Sex Crimes Against Numerous Females - 09/07/18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

Thomas Oliver receives 30 year prison sentence for sex crimes against numerous females

Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced Thomas Oliver, 37, was sentenced to 30 years in prison following an extensive sex crimes investigation that spanned criminal acts ranging from 2007-2016.

“It's taken many long and difficult years to get to this day,” said a survivor of Mr. Oliver’s during her victim impact statement. “In my mind, this sentence is for everyone you have ever hurt whether their names are on a piece of paper or not.”

On September 7, 2018, Oliver appeared before Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Eric J. Bergstrom and pleaded and was found guilty of five counts of rape in the first degree, three counts of sodomy in the first degree, two counts of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct and sexual abuse in the first degree and one count each of unlawful sexual penetration in the first degree and attempted rape in the first degree.

The plea agreement encompasses 11 female victims. Some of the victims were acquaintances or friends of Mr. Oliver. Others he met using Backpage.com and on a dating application. During this investigation, the Portland Police Bureau’s Sex Crimes Unit identified six underage victims.

“You took things from us that you have no right to take, and now we are taking your freedom from you,” a survivor said. “Your power over us was only temporary. … I don’t call you a monster. I have sympathy for monsters. Monsters are created by nature or circumstance. Yours is not a sickness of mind or body. It's a sickness of character.”

Another survivor reaffirmed during the sentencing hearing that Oliver no longer holds any power over her or others.

“…You were just a bad Tinder date. I rarely thought about you before this and I'll probably forget your exact name in a few years,” she said. “I'm here to say that you going away is the only thing to give me solace.”

Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney JR Ujifusa, who prosecuted this case, thanked the victims who attended and those who were unable to attend court.

“I cannot begin to imagine their journey and all of the things they've gone through,” Ujifusa said. “This sentence does not fully represent the pain, suffering and trauma that Mr. Oliver has caused to these individuals. Unfortunately, no sentence could do that. This sentence does allow for closure, finality and healing.  It protects the community and prevents Mr. Oliver from being out in the community for a very long time.”

Oliver will serve a 30 year prison sentence. He will receive credit for time already served. Upon his release from the Oregon Department of Corrections, he will be on 11.5 years of post-prison supervision.

About the Portland Police Bureau’s Sex Crimes Unit

The Portland Police Bureau Sex Crimes Unit’s detectives are trauma informed and conduct their investigations with a victim-centered approach, which recognizes that the importance of a survivor’s health can be just as importance as their search for justice. No reports are declined. The Portland Police Bureau is unique among law enforcement agencies with its imbedded Victim Advocates who work to increase the rate of a survivor’s healing, while Detectives focus on investigating elements of the crime.

Although some investigations can be conducted in mere days, some may take many months or even years. While a swift conclusion to cases is desired, the goal of the investigations conducted by Sex Crimes Unit is justice and truth for the survivor.

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Contact: Brent Weisberg, Communications Director

Phone: 503.988.6567

Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us