June 12, 2019

Russell Morris, 55, receives 100 month prison sentence for sexually abusing two girls

Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that 55-year-old Russell Morris received a 100 month prison sentence for sexually abusing two children in 2010 and 2018. 

During Morris’ sentencing, the victims’ family described his abuse as “horrific,” and said he has inflicted a lifetime of pain for the girls and their family. 

“When these allegations were made, Russell Morris turned himself into police and immediately expressed his remorse and his willingness to accept responsibility for his crimes. He said all along that he wouldn’t make the victims testify and this plea agreement protects them from having to relive this abuse. It also holds him accountable for taking away the innocence of these two girls who are incredibly brave for coming forward and sharing their story,” said Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Amanda Nadell, who prosecuted this case. 

This investigation started in October 2018 when Gresham Police responded to a residence to investigate suspected child sexual abuse. 

When law enforcement arrived, they spoke with a female victim who told law enforcement that Morris had sexually abused her on numerous occasions. 

During the investigation, law enforcement identified a second victim of child sexual abuse. Both girls are related to one another. 

By pleading guilty, Morris admits that he unlawfully and knowingly subjected both victims, who were under the age of 14, to sexual contact by touching intimate parts of their body. 

As part of his plea agreement with the state, Morris will have to register for life as a sex offender. 

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office recognizes the work of the Multnomah County Child Abuse Team and the law enforcement agencies assigned to that unit for their dedicated efforts investigating this and all other cases of child abuse and neglect. 

This case was litigated by Deputy District Attorney Amanda Nadell who is assigned to 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 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 determined not to be a stranger to the child.

#MCDA#

Contact: Brent Weisberg, Communications Director 
Phone: 503.988.6567 
Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us