HILLSBORO, Ore.- On February 15, 2019, a Washington County jury found Andrew Guy Moret guilty of Murder and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Judge Andrew R. Erwin oversaw the case. Senior Deputy District Attorney Bracken McKey and Deputy District Attorney Rayney Meisel prosecuted the case against Moret.
On September 13, 2015, Moret shot Alonzo Sentel Gregg nine times near Dandy’s Deli in Hillsboro. Gregg died at the scene. Moret was arrested three days after the shooting and charged with Gregg’s murder.
Moret, who served as his own attorney in the case, claimed self-defense in the shooting of Gregg. The jury disagreed and found him guilty.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the Hillsboro Police Department and Detective Sean Magnuson for their work on this case which spanned more than three years.
Sentencing is set for February 28 at 8:30. Moret will remain in custody until he is transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.
HILLSBORO, Ore.- On February 13, 2019, Judge Beth L. Roberts sentenced 67-year-old Stephen William Breaux to 240 months in prison. Breaux pleaded guilty to four counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree on February 1, 2019. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Allison Brown.
Hillsboro Police first began investigating Breaux in January of 2018 after the 9-year-old victim made a disclosure of abuse to her father. Her father then alerted authorities. The victim was also taken to CARES Northwest, where she told counselors that Breaux had been abusing her for the last two years.
Breaux initially denied the allegations and refused to take a polygraph examination, but eventually admitted his guilt in court. The victim’s family was in court for Breaux’s sentencing, and indicated the victim will be relieved now that this case is concluded.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the Hillsboro Police Department, Detective Michelle Gay, and CARES Northwest for their assistance in this case.
In addition to his prison sentence, Breaux must register as a sex offender. Breaux has been transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.
HILLSBORO, Ore.- On February 11, 2019, Judge Theodore Sims sentenced William Daniel Callaway to three months in jail and ordered his license revoked for 12 months. Callaway pleaded guilty to Fourth Degree Assault, Hit-and-Run with Injuries and Reckless Endangering after he fled from and injured a North Plains police officer who tried to pull him over along Highway 26 in January. Deputy District Attorney Matt Wise prosecuted the case against Callaway.
On January 15, 2019, Officer Steven Schutz spotted a car driving recklessly on the shoulder of Highway 26 eastbound. Schutz activated his lights and sirens and pulled the car over. The driver, later identified as Callaway, initially denied driving on the shoulder. Callaway provided false identification and continued to deny he ever drove on the shoulder of the highway.
After confirming that Callaway provided false identification, Officer Schutz told Callaway he was under arrest and ordered him to get out of the vehicle. Callaway refused, started the car and drove off at a high rate of speed. He dragged the officer 15-20 feet and ran over his left foot during the escape. The officer was taken to the hospital and has since made a full recovery.
In addition to his jail sentence and the loss of driving privileges, Callaway will also serve three years of probation. He has been transferred to the Washington County Jail to begin serving his sentence.
HILLSBORO, Ore.- On February 1, 2019, Washington County Judge Theodore Sims sentenced Muhammad Laftah Hasan to 48 months in prison. Hasan pleaded guilty to First Degree Attempted Sexual Abuse and Third Degree Sexual Abuse in January of 2019. The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Megan Johnson.
Tigard Police began investigating Hasan in 2017 after a parent contacted officers with concerns that her daughter was abused by Hasan. Hasan was running the American Islamic Center for the Holy Qur’an in Tigard at the time, where the victim was undergoing his instruction.
Detective Kevin Dresser of the Tigard Police Department began investigating the case and determined the abuse began as early as 2016. Detectives also discovered a second victim who reported similar abuse by Hasan. Hasan was arrested without incident at his home in Corvallis, Oregon in December of 2017.
“This case is a sobering reminder of the fact that adults will exploit positions of trust and authority in any context to gain access to children,” Johnson said of Hasan’s actions. “The fact that these victims were able to come forward in this situation speaks to their courage. We know that most people will never be able to disclose a history of childhood sexual abuse at all, let alone at the hands of someone dearly loved and venerated in their community. Mr. Hasan’s guilty plea and this sentence ensure the protection of children going forward and is serves as his public acknowledgement of guilt.”
Hasan has worked with children across several communities in both Oregon and Washington. Investigators fear there could be additional victims who haven’t yet come forward. Anyone with information about additional abuse should call law enforcement immediately.
In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Sims also ordered Hasan to undergo 10 years of post-prison supervision, to submit a DNA sample, to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, to pay more than $5,000 in restitution and to have no contact with minors except for his daughter. Hasan will also serve five years of probation. Hasan will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.
HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 23, 2019, Washington County Judge Andrew R. Erwin found John Patrick Gilbreath guilty of one count of First Degree Unlawful Sexual Penetration. Deputy District Attorney Andy Pulver prosecuted the case.
Gilbreath, who worked at the Partridge House daycare facility in Beaverton, first came under scrutiny from investigators in 2016. A three-year-old girl who was attending the daycare at the time made disclosures of abuse to her parents. The Beaverton Police Department investigated the case but didn’t have sufficient evidence to file charges at the time.
Nearly two years later, another young child being cared for by Gilbreath made similar claims of abuse to her parents as well. Beaverton Police again investigated the allegations. The Washington County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against Gilbreath for both victims a short time later.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge Detective Cynthia Herring with the Beaverton Police department for her diligent work on this case.
If you suspect your child may have been abused while attending the Partridge House daycare facility, call police immediately.
Gilbreath remains in custody. A sentencing hearing will take place in March.
HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 23, 2019, Maria Lucille Meisner pleaded guilty to Murder. A life sentence with a minimum of 25 years was issued by Judge Beth Roberts.
Meisner and Celia Schwab, the unlicensed caretaker for 74-year-old victim Kathryn Breen, were arrested in December of 2016. Neighbors reported a fire in Breen’s apartment. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue found Breen unresponsive on the scene with severe burns covering most of her body. She was rushed to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center where she died of her injuries a month later.
Schwab had removed a significant amount of money from Breen’s accounts and had persuaded Meisner, Breen’s neighbor, to assist with burning Breen alive, in what investigators believe was an effort to end Schwab’s tenure of caretaking.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Megan Johnson and Deputy District Attorney Mark Richman prosecuted the case against Meisner.
Schwab was also charged with murder, but she died of natural causes on September 11, 2017 while the case was pending.
“It was a gruesome betrayal of trust for the defendants to burn an elderly woman alive,” Richman said of the case. “This fact was made worse in that the victim lingered with serious burns for a month before she died. We appreciate that Ms. Meisner has stepped forward to take responsibility for her actions. The life sentence with a 25-year minimum offers the community security against similar acts from her in the future.”
The Washington County Elder Abuse Multi-Disciplinary Team came together to solve this case. Led by the Beaverton Police Department which spearheaded the investigation, a clear picture of the crime emerged. Agency partners played key roles in ensuring investigative details came to light, including Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Adult Protective Services, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hillsboro Police Department.
Meisner will begin serving her sentence immediately in the Oregon Department of Corrections.
HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 23, 2019, Judge D. Charles Bailey sentenced Aaron Gabriel Zoller to 120 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to First Degree Kidnapping and First Degree Attempted Sodomy. The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney John Gerhard.
On April 26, 2017, Zoller attacked a 20-year-old woman who was walking through an apartment complex parking lot in the Quatama area of Hillsboro and tried to force her into his truck. The victim, who did not know Zoller, fought, screamed for help and was eventually able to escape. Her detailed reports to Hillsboro Police were instrumental in the apprehension of Zoller. The victim also summoned the courage to face her attacker in court.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge Detective Pat Brady and Officer Marth Bual of the Hillsboro Police Department for their work on this case.
“This case reaffirms our mission to protect victims in Washington County and to hold criminals accountable,” Gerhard said of the outcome in the case.
In addition to his prison sentence, Zoller will also undergo 10 years of post-prison supervision and will have to register as a sex offender for life. He has been transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.
HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 23, 2019, Washington County Judge Andrew R. Erwin sentenced Erik John Graeff to 18 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Recklessly Endangering Another Person. Senior Deputy District Attorney Bracken McKey prosecuted the case and asked the court to sentence Graeff to 60 months in prison, the presumptive sentence for felonies involving the use of a firearm.
The charges stem from a December 2017 incident in which Graeff, who was working as a lawyer at the time, fired six rounds from his handgun into the offices of a Beaverton law firm. At least one woman was inside the building at the time of the shooting. Investigators later determined that one of the bullets missed the woman’s head by less than a foot.
After searching cell phone records, investigators learned that Graeff drove from his home in Vancouver, Washington, to the law offices in Beaverton during the height of rush hour traffic. Investigators served a search warrant on Graeff’s home and vehicle in Vancouver and located a 9mm firearm used in the shooting. McKey argued that Graeff had ample time to reconsider his actions and recommended the five-year sentence because the crime was premediated.
In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Erwin also ordered Graeff to undergo two years of post-prison supervision, participate in mental health and alcohol treatment programs and pay a $5,000 fine to the victims. He will also lose his right to own a firearm due to his felony conviction. Graeff is currently facing unlawful manufacturing of methamphetamine charges in Clark County, Washington.
Graeff has been transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections and will begin serving his sentence immediately.
HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 23, 2019, Washington County Judge Theodore Sims sentenced Tyrone Neil Murphy to 50 years in prison. This sentencing comes after a jury found Murphy guilty of four counts of First Degree Sodomy, two counts of First Degree Rape and two counts of Second Degree Sex Abuse last month. See our previous release on the case here.
Deputy District Attorney Rayney Meisel prosecuted the case against Murphy, which was investigated by the Hillsboro Police Department. During sentencing, Meisel asked the Judge to protect the community by leveling a lengthy prison sentence.
“He has demonstrated time and time again that, when left in society, he will continue to create victims,” Meisel argued.
Murphy was previously convicted of five sex abuse-related crimes in 2009. Meisel also argued that he failed to reform himself after those crimes.
“He was given sex offender treatment, and he re-offended. He was given probation, and he re-offended. When one victim escaped him, he moved on to the next. This is a person who has left a trail of victimization and this is your opportunity to ensure that trail has an end,” Meisel told the judge.
In a joint victim impact statement read during the sentencing, Murphy’s survivors told the court that this is not how they imagined living their lives. They spoke of milestones that were endured instead of celebrated, and the lifelong trauma they will contend with as a result of the physical, emotional, and sexual abuse Murphy inflicted. “His abusive pattern is a testament that he does not have the capacity to change. We hope nobody else has to experience him the way we did,” they told the court.
Murphy has been transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections and will begin serving his sentence immediately.
HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 18, 2019, Washington County Judge Oscar Garcia found Kenneth Lijah Duyck guilty of Sexual Assault of an Animal and Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle. Duyck was sentenced to 20 months in prison by Judge Garcia. Deputy District Attorney Sabina Khachaturova prosecuted the case against Duyck.
Detective Jim Berning began investigating the case after the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the owner of a horse stable located in Hillsboro. The owner suspected someone tampered with a horse in her barn and asked authorities to investigate.
Detective Berning spoke with the owner and nearby neighbors and quickly developed Duyck as a person of interest in the case. As the investigation continued, the owner’s daughter, who is a veterinarian, also began looking into the case. Based on evidence found in the stable, the daughter suspected the horse had been sexually assaulted. She conducted an examination of the horse in question and took samples of fluid found inside the animal.
Detective Berning eventually tracked down Duyck to an area Walmart where he was sleeping in a stolen vehicle. He admitted to entering the stable without the owner’s permission. He denied any wrongdoing at the time but did admit to touching the horse’s tail. Duyck also agreed to submit a DNA sample at that time.
Investigators eventually confirmed that the fluid found inside the horse matched the DNA sample provided by Duyck.
In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Garcia also ordered Duyck to undergo post-prison supervision for two years. He must also register as a sex offender and complete sex offender and mental health treatment plans.
HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 18, 2019, a Washington County jury found David Allan Detgen guilty of three counts of First Degree Sexual Abuse. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Chris Lewman and overseen by Judge Ricardo Menchaca. Detgen was sentenced to 200 months in prison for his crimes.
Hillsboro Police first began investigating a case of possible abuse in March of 2018, after the nine-year-old victim reported to school staff that she had been touched inappropriately by her mother’s live-in boyfriend whom she later identified as Detgen.
Detective Robert Rookhuÿzen of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office soon took over the investigation. In conjunction with the school counselor, the Oregon Department of Human Services and experts from CARES Northwest, investigators determined Detgen sexually assaulted the girl on several occasions.
Investigators also learned that Detgen was previously arrested by law enforcement in Florida for child abuse-related crimes, but those charges were eventually dropped. Investigators do not believe there are other victims out there.
Detgen will begin serving his sentence immediately.
HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 18, 2018, Branden Michael Helms was convicted of Second Degree Sex Abuse by a Coach. He was sentenced to 13 months in prison. The case against Helms was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Chris Lewman and was overseen by Judge Janelle Wipper.
The investigation into Helms began in June of 2018 after the 16-year-old victim’s mother witnessed inappropriate contact between her daughter and Helms. Helms, who was 25-years-old, was working as an assistant track coach at Sunset High School at the time. The victim was a student athlete and was being coached by Helms.
Detective Madalyn Brown of the Beaverton Police Department soon took over the investigation. With permission from the victim and her parents, Detective Brown began scouring the victim’s cell phone for digital evidence. She found extensive text message conversations between the victim and Helms, many of which were sexual in nature. Detective Brown also determined that the victim and Helms met in person at least four times and participated in various degrees of sexual contact during those meetings.
Helms first denied any wrongdoing, until Detective Brown confronted him with video and photos he sent to the victim. In those videos, Helms’ face and genitals are clearly visible. Once Helms saw this evidence against him, he hung his head and admitted to engaging in the sexual contact with the child. He also admitted to sending the lewd photos and videos to the girl.
“We want the public to know that we take cases involving abuse by an adult in a position of trust very seriously,” Lewman said. “This man used his role as a coach to groom and take advantage of the victim. A 16-year-old is not able to consent to this type of behavior, our children must be protected from predators like Helms.”
Helms was relieved of his duties at Sunset High School. Investigators do not believe there are any other victims. He was sentenced to 13 months in prison with five years of post-prison supervision less time served. He was ordered to register as a sex offender and the court recommended no contact with minors, internet and computer restrictions, and sex offender treatment as conditions of post-prison supervision.