FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     

DECEMBER 7, 2018

Judge finds Portland man guilty of raping child, initiating a false police report

Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that Demarcus Ramone James, 43, was found guilty of numerous sex crimes against a child, including rape.

On December 6, 2018, Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Leslie G. Bottomly found James guilty of five counts of sexual abuse in the first degree, two counts of sodomy in the first degree, two counts of sodomy in the second degree, and one count each of rape in the first degree, rape in the second degree and initiating a false police report.

During the four-day trial, the state presented DNA evidence and other evidence of physical trauma to show there was definitive proof that the child was raped and sexually assaulted.

The victim in this case was 12 years old and lived at the same apartment complex as the defendant.

The state also presented evidence that the child returned home crying and disclosed the incident to her mother immediately after the assault.

As the victim was reporting this incident, a third party, known to the defendant, called emergency dispatchers and reported a burglary at the apartment complex. Officers responded and spoke with the defendant who told them that upon returning to his residence, two unknown males were inside his apartment and assaulted him. James was transported to an area hospital.

However, facts presented at trial showed after assaulting the victim, James initiated a false police report by lying about his home being burglarized.

Sentencing in this case is scheduled for January 18, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Bottomly.  

James was acquitted of two counts of sexual abuse in the first degree.

No additional information can be released until sentencing.

This case was investigated by the Multnomah County Child Abuse Team and the Multnomah County Multidisciplinary Child Abuse Team, which includes representatives from local law enforcement, public schools, hospitals, courts, health departments, the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS), and the Oregon Department of Employment Child Care Division. 

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Multidisciplinary Child Abuse Team is responsible for reviewing and coordinating all child abuse and neglect cases in Multnomah County. The team also handles all child homicides, felony child physical abuse cases, felony child abandonment cases, custodial interference cases, and felony sex crimes where the victim is currently under the age of 18 and where the perpetrator is considered a family member.

#MCDA#

Contact: Brent Weisberg, Communications Director

Phone: 503.988.6567

Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us