Multnomah Co. District Attorney's Office
Emergency Messages as of 5:41 am, Thu. Mar. 28
No information currently posted.
Subscribe to receive FlashAlert messages from Multnomah Co. District Attorney's Office.
Primary email address for a new account:

  


Manage my existing Subscription

News Release
Human sex trafficking investigation results in prison sentence for 33 year old man - 12/06/18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 

DECEMBER 6, 2018

Human sex trafficking investigation results in prison sentence for 33 year old man

Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that 33-year-old Douglas Earl Brandow received an 18 month prison sentence and a 45 month probation sentence following a human sex trafficking investigation.

On October 26, 2018, the defendant appeared before Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Christopher A. Ramras and pleaded guilty to purchasing sex with a minor, luring a minor and online sexual corruption of a child in the first degree.

“One of the top priorities of the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office is to protect children from sexual exploitation,” Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Mike Botthof said after sentencing. “There is absolutely no place for human sex trafficking in our community.”

This investigation started on April 18, 2018 when the Washington State Patrol created an undercover account using an online application where people can talk and meet up if they choose.

During the investigation, a person using the name of "Doug" started communicating with the undercover law enforcement account. 

Law enforcement identified the defendant based on the phone number associated with his application’s account. The defendant initiated the conversation and took efforts to arrange a meeting for sex with a person he believed to be a 13 year old child.

“This case highlights the steps some people will take to have sex with a child, which is why we remain committed to identifying and holding those people accountable,” DDA Botthof said. “As a result of this mission, we believe law enforcement was able to save a child.”

During the investigation, the defendant went to a location in Portland, Oregon where he believed he would meet the child and pay for sex. Law enforcement located the defendant in a vehicle and observed him using his phone. During that time, sexually explicit text messages were sent to the undercover officer.

Officers conducted a traffic stop on April 19, 2018 near the intersection of Southeast 122nd Avenue and Southeast Stark Street to take the defendant into custody.

As part of his sentencing, Brandow will be ordered to register as a sex offender. Upon release from prison, Brandow will be on three years of post-prison supervision. Terms of the probation include receiving sex offender, mental health and alcohol and gambling treatment. If Brandow violate the terms of his probation, he is subject to 41-45 months of additional incarceration.

This case was investigated by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office Human Sex Trafficking Team, which includes two attorneys, an investigator and a victim advocate. Additionally, an attorney assigned to the MCDA gang unit is available to help prosecute cases and support the team as trafficking routinely intersects with gang violence.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office’s Human Trafficking Team works to protect victims utilizing a three-prong approach: (1) aggressively prosecuting those who traffic victims to sex buyers; (2) reducing demand for exploitation in all forms to include a dedicated focus on a reduction of sex buyers; and (3) ensuring adequate protection and support for victims of human trafficking.

If you are, or know of a child or an adult, involved in sex trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or 9-1-1.

#MCDA#


Contact: Brent Weisberg, Communications Director

Phone: 503.988.6567

Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us

View more news releases from Multnomah Co. District Attorney's Office.