FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JANUARY 16, 2019

Man, 36, indicted following alleged stranger-on-stranger attack in the Pearl District

Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that on January 15, 2019, 36-year-old Jason Ray Stewart was arraigned on a 28-count indictment.

The indictment, which was filed on January 14, 2019, charges the defendant with 12 counts of burglary in the first degree, two counts of sexual abuse in the first degree, one count of attempted sexual abuse in the first degree, two counts of attempted rape in the first degree, two counts of felony strangulation, one count of kidnapping in the first degree, one count of attempted kidnapping in the first degree, two counts of coercion, one count of felony assault in the fourth degree, two counts of menacing, and two counts of harassment.

This investigation started on January 6, 2019 when officers with the Portland Police Bureau learned about a disturbance in the Pearl District.

The indictment alleges Stewart unlawfully and knowingly entered and remained in an apartment complex in the 1500 block of Northwest 14th Avenue in Portland, Oregon with the intent to commit the crimes of rape, sexual abuse, menacing, and harassment.

During the attack, Stewart physically assaulted a woman, strangled her and attempted to rape her, according to the indictment. It is further alleged that Stewart did, by forcible compulsion, sexually abuse the victim multiple times during this criminal episode.

While being attacked, the woman reported she yelled for help when another resident stepped out of his apartment with a baseball bat, which caused Stewart to flee, according to court documents. As law enforcement arrived, they received information that the suspect had been chased out.

The indictment also alleges that Stewart attempted to kidnap a second female and attempted to rape and sexually abuse her.

A copy of the indictment can be obtained using case number 19CR01009 in the Oregon eCourt Information (OECI) system.

The defendant’s next court date is scheduled for February 25, 2019.

This remains an on-going criminal investigation and as such, no additional information can be released by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime. The defendant is innocent unless and until proven guilty.

#MCDA#

Contact: Brent Weisberg, Communications Director

Phone: 503.988.6567

Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us