HILLSBORO, Ore.- On May 18, 2020, a Washington County jury found Manuel Alfonzo De Leon Say guilty of two counts of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and four counts of first-degree sexual abuse. Deputy District Attorney Chris Lewman prosecuted the defendant in Judge Janelle Wipper’s courtroom.
In August of 2018, a witness observed the defendant sexually abusing the young victim at a business in Hillsboro, Oregon. The witness immediately removed the child from the area and reported the incident to Hillsboro Police.
Detectives began to investigate, and the child was interviewed by medical experts at CARES Northwest. The victim described inappropriate touching and conduct by the defendant at both the business and a residence.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office acknowledges the investigative work of Hillsboro Police Detective Megan Townsend on this case. This office also thanks CARES Northwest for their assistance.
A sentencing hearing for the defendant is scheduled for May 26, 2020. The defendant will remain in custody until that time.
HILLSBORO, Ore.- On May 7, 2020, Austin Michael House pleaded guilty to four counts of attempted using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct and first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. Senior Deputy District Attorney Andy Pulver prosecuted the case before Judge Ted Sims.
In October of 2017, the defendant, aged 26 at the time, was caught engaging in sexually explicit conduct online with a 15-year-old girl living outside of Oregon. The victim’s grandmother searched the defendant’s social media accounts and determined he lived in Beaverton, Oregon. She then immediately contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office which launched an investigation into the incident.
Detectives obtained search warrants for Mr. House’s home and multiple electronic devices. They found evidence of similar crimes involving three additional minors, all living outside Oregon. Investigators also found multiple images and videos depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Over the course of two law enforcement interviews, the defendant admitted to detectives that he was aware of the victims’ ages and admitted to engaging in sexually explicit conversations with them via social media and other digital platforms.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office credits the victim’s family for making the initial report, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for their investigative work on this case. This office also acknowledges Detective Tim Mateski for his detailed investigation and continuing efforts to identify the defendant’s additional victims.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 10, 2020. The defendant will remain in custody until that time.
HILLSBORO, Ore.- On May 12, 2020, a Washington County jury found Jose Luis Torres guilty of two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and four counts of using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct. Senior Deputy District Attorney Andy Pulver prosecuted the case before Judge Erik Buchér.
The investigation began in September of 2019 after the victim’s mother found hidden camera footage on the defendant’s phone depicting the teenaged victim. The victim’s mother immediately called Hillsboro Police. When police responded, the mother also alerted police to an incident involving the defendant and the victim from the previous year in which the victim reported inappropriate touching by the defendant.
Investigators determined the defendant purchased three hidden cameras which he placed throughout the house, including inside the victim’s room. When confronted by police, the defendant admitted to placing the cameras inside the home in what he described as an effort to keep tabs on those living there.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office acknowledges the investigative work of Detective Cheryl Banks and the Hillsboro Police Department.
A sentencing hearing for Mr. Torres is set for July 1, 2020. The defendant will remain in custody until that time.
HILLSBORO, Ore.- The Washington County District Attorney’s Office is taking action to address a concerning trend in property crime committed in relation to the COVID-19 state of emergency.
This office is committed to ensuring that people and businesses are protected from all forms of crime, including theft. This is especially true as we respond to challenges related to COVID-19. Those who take advantage of our community’s residents and businesses during a state of emergency will be held fully accountable for their actions.
Generally, whether a theft is a misdemeanor or a felony depends on the value of the property stolen. However, Oregon law (ORS 164.055) allows for certain misdemeanor thefts that occur during a state of emergency to be charged at the felony level, regardless of the property value.
Given our current state of emergency and concerns regarding property crime, the Washington County DA’s Office will charge certain misdemeanor thefts at the felony level as allowed by Oregon law. Examples of cases where felony charges may occur include but are not limited to the following:
- The theft directly relates to the COVID-19 emergency (such as theft of face masks or PPE);
- The defendant’s actions demonstrate that he/she is taking advantage of the COVID-19 emergency in order to commit the theft (such as a theft of a closed business or otherwise taking advantage of the emergency for personal gain); or,
- The theft was committed by a person who has committed multiple property crimes during the pandemic and otherwise meets the $100 threshold for theft in the second degree.
This office is working closely with our partners in law enforcement to monitor the situation on the ground and to respond appropriately. The Tigard Police Department’s Commercial Crime Unit is increasing patrols and outreach to businesses to respond to increases in crime.
“Burglaries in our community, particularly those targeting commercial businesses, were up 60% in April compared to April of 2019. We are also seeing a marked increase in the number of stolen vehicle reports throughout Tigard,” said Tigard Police Chief Kathy McAlpine.
A popular Tigard auto parts store has been burglarized four times since April. Additionally, the Organized Retail Crime Association of Oregon has seen its member businesses impacted by this crisis. Both groups are willing to share their experience with interested media outlets. You can find contact information below.
While law enforcement continues to protect our community during this time, we all have a role to play. This office encourages community members to support one another by reporting crimes so that law enforcement can investigate them and so this office can prosecute offenders.
Contact information:
To arrange interviews with District Attorney Kevin Barton, the Organized Retail Crime Association of Oregon or an impacted business, contact Stephen Mayer at 971-708-8219 or via email at stephen_mayer@co.washington.or.us.
To request an interview with Tigard Police, contact Kelsey Anderson at 971-708-2921 or via email at son@tigard-or.gov">kelsey.anderson@tigard-or.gov.
HILLSBORO, Ore.- On May 1, 2020, a Washington County jury found Dale William Martineau guilty of two counts of second-degree robbery, two counts of menacing, second-degree theft and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. On May 5, 2020, Judge Andrew Erwin sentenced Mr. Martineau to 105 months in prison. Deputy District Attorney Nadya Martin prosecuted the case against the defendant.
On August 22, 2016, the defendant approached a man outside his Tualatin, Oregon residence and asked him for a ride. The man went into his home to retrieve his keys but forgot that they were already inside his vehicle. Mr. Martineau then got into the vehicle and drove off. The owner tried to give chase but was unable to catch the defendant. The owner was able to help identify the defendant when police arrived.
A short time later, the defendant drove the stolen vehicle to a nearby Fred Meyer. The defendant entered the business and approached a cashier. The defendant repeatedly told the employee to open the register and demanded he give him cash from the register. He threatened to shoot the employee if he didn’t comply. The defendant lifted his shirt to show the victim what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun tucked into his pants. The cashier handed over the cash and the defendant fled the area in the stolen vehicle. Tualatin Police responded to the call and eventually used surveillance footage to confirm Mr. Martineau’s role in the robbery.
On August 29, 2016, Mr. Martineau entered another Fred Meyer location in Beaverton, Oregon. He approached a customer service representative, displayed a handgun and demanded cash. The employee refused and walked away. The defendant approached two additional workers but was rebuffed by them as well. Video surveillance obtained by investigators clearly shows the defendant displaying what appeared to be a handgun during the incident.
As the investigations continued, detectives learned the defendant was in Yamhill County, Oregon. Detectives drove to the location and attempted to apprehend the suspect. Mr. Martineau refused to respond or exit the trailer for several hours before he eventually surrendered to authorities. The owner of the stolen truck was able to recover his vehicle.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the Tualatin Police Department, Beaverton Police Department, Newberg-Dundee Police Department and Oregon State Police for their work on this case.
In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Erwin also ordered the defendant pay $690 in restitution to his victims and undergo three years of post-prison supervision upon his release. Mr. Martineau will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.