Jury Finds Steven Neil Milner Guilty In Murder Case (Photo) -01/23/25

HILLSBORO, Ore- On January 22, 2025, a Washington County jury found Steven Neil Milner guilty of murder in the second degree, stalking, and violating a court's stalking protective order (seven counts). Senior Deputy District Attorney John Gerhard and Deputy District Attorney Mahalee Streblow prosecuted this case before Judge Erik Buchér.
 

The defendant was a licensed veterinarian with a practice in Oregon City. He developed an intimate relationship with one of his longtime employees who was married to the victim in this case, Kenneth Fandrich. The victim learned of this affair which led to conflict with the defendant. When the woman ended her relationship with Mr. Milner, he became obsessed with her and began stalking her and the victim.
 

In March of 2022, the victim was granted a stalking protective order (SPO) after years of harassment from Mr. Milner, including the discovery of numerous GPS tracking devices that Mr. Milner attached to the victim's and his wife's vehicles. Home surveillance video also captured the defendant sneaking onto their property. Despite the SPO, the defendant continued to engage in stalking behavior. He installed another GPS tracking device on the Fandrich's vehicles and followed the victim to his home in Oregon City and his workplace at Intel Ronler Acres in Hillsboro more than a dozen times. The defendant was criminally charged in Clackamas County (court case number 22CR41120) but continued the stalking behavior while on conditional release.
 

In October 2022, the defendant purchased an additional vehicle on Craigslist to begin stalking the victim at his workplace in Hillsboro more covertly. On December 13, 2022, the defendant was captured on Intel's surveillance cameras as he arrived at a parking structure in the afternoon. While wearing a disguise, Mr. Milner used spray paint to tamper with several security cameras, including those covering the area where the victim usually parked, all to test Intel's security response. The defendant then repeatedly showed up in the Intel parking structure to observe the victim's patterns as he came and went from work. In early January 2023, the defendant purchased another vehicle using a false identity. The defendant used this vehicle to continue his covert surveillance of the victim at the Intel parking structure.
 

On January 27, 2023, the defendant used both of his "burner" vehicles to execute his plan of murdering the victim. The defendant entered the parking structure while in disguise, waited for the victim to park his car and walk into the Intel campus, and again spray-painted the security cameras surrounding the victim's vehicle. He left the scene and returned in a second vehicle, a minivan, which he parked next to the victim's car. He waited in the van until the victim got off work and returned to his car. After the victim reached his car, the defendant ambushed him from behind and executed a chokehold on him. After killing the victim, the defendant staged the victim's body and belongings back in his car in an attempt to make it appear that the victim died of natural causes. Mr. Fandrich was later found dead in his vehicle, but an autopsy revealed injury to his neck and spine.
 

At trial, the defendant testified in his own defense. The defendant claimed that he acted in self-defense after he was attacked by the victim. The jury rejected this claim.
 

The Washington County District Attorney's Office commends the work of the Hillsboro Police Department and partner agencies on this case.
 

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 18^th, 2025.

Ryan James Darby Convicted In Bias Crime, Assault Cases (Photo) -01/21/25

HILLSBORO, Ore- On January 15, 2025, Ryan James Darby pleaded guilty to bias crime in the first degree, felony assault in the fourth degree, and unlawful use of a weapon. Judge Erik Buchér sentenced the defendant to 60 months in prison. Senior Deputy District Attorney Jeff MacLean and Deputy District Attorney Harpreet Dhaliwal prosecuted these cases.
 

These charges stem from two separate incidents. On June 2, 2024, the defendant approached his neighbor, a Black man, and began talking to him. The victim asked the defendant to leave him alone. Mr. Darby responded by calling the victim a racial slur before he attacked him. He struck the victim in the face which caused injury.
 

The victim called police and officers with the Beaverton Police Department responded to the scene. They spoke with the defendant who denied any wrongdoing. He also provided an alibi and said he was with a friend at the time of the attack. Officers spoke with that woman. She denied the defendant’s claims and said she wasn’t with him then. Officers also found a tattoo on the defendant’s body connected to a well-known white supremacist gang.
 

On November 9, 2024, the defendant got into an argument with his girlfriend and a friend of hers. He assaulted the friend and threatened to stab them both. The victim’s three children were also present and witnessed this incident. Neighbors heard the children screaming and called police. Officers with the Tigard Police Department responded. Those at the scene downplayed the events and said they had only gotten into a verbal argument. Several days later, officers received a video recording of the incident in which they learned the defendant had threatened the victims with a knife. They also confirmed he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and detained him.
 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the work of the Beaverton and Tigard Police Departments on these cases. 
 

In addition to his prison sentence, the court also ordered the defendant to serve two years of post-prison supervision, have no contact with his victims upon release, and undergo mental health and anger management treatment. The defendant will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to serve his sentence. 

Washington County District Attorney's Office To Be Awarded $20,000 In Grant Funding From The National Endowment For The Arts (Photo) -01/16/25

HILLSBORO, Ore- The Washington County District Attorney’s Office has been approved for a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) Grants for Arts Projects program. Working in partnership with Tualatin Valley Creates and the City of Hillsboro Cultural Arts Division, this funding will support the design and creation of a sculpture honoring crime victims to be prominently displayed on the Washington County Courthouse grounds and trauma-informed artwork for areas of the DA’s Office providing services for crime victims.
 

This office sought this funding to help improve the experiences of crime victims and witnesses who are often subjected to re-traumatization as they navigate the criminal justice process and relive past events. Grand jurors and jury members can also experience secondary trauma while they review evidence and testimony related to their assigned cases.
 

Carrie Sargavakian, Victim Assistance Senior Program Coordinator with the DA’s office, spearheaded this effort. Sargavakian and her team of victim advocates recognize artwork's healing and calming influence on those experiencing trauma.
 

“Through this public arts project, we hope to transform our public spaces through trauma-informed design to promote safety, tranquility, and healing, positively impacting how victims and the public experience the criminal justice system, Sargavakian said.
 

The DA’s office will also seek matching funds, bringing the total amount for this project to $50,000. District Attorney Kevin Barton believes this project will send a strong message of support to crime victims across the county.
 

“So much about the criminal court process is an ugly experience for victims—from the initial crime itself, to being retraumatized through multiple interviews, testimony, and cross-examinations,” said District Attorney Barton. “This unique effort is our attempt to make the experience a little bit better through beauty and art so that community members feel safe, supported, and welcome.”
 

“Receiving recognition and funding from an organization like the NEA is a major honor for the community,” said Karl LeClair, Public Art Supervisor for the City of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Department. “The DA’s office is deserving of this recognition in seeing the value in increasing victim wellness through trauma-informed design and works of art by local artists. This is artistic expression at its best in serving to connect and improve the wellness of our community members.”
 

This office will work with project partners to commission local artists to submit design proposals. Our goal is to have all artwork completed and installed by the end of 2026. 

TIMOTHY PAUL FITZGERALD CONVICTED OF 10 COUNTS IN STRANGER-ON-STRANGER SEXUAL ASSAULT AND KIDNAPPING CASE (Photo) -01/13/25

HILLSBORO, Ore- On January 9, 2025, a Washington County jury found Timothy Paul Fitzgerald, age 54, guilty of assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, two counts of sodomy in the first degree, three counts of sexual abuse in the first degree, kidnapping in the first degree, attempted rape in the first degree, and unlawful sexual penetration in the first degree. Deputy District Attorney Alyssa Camp prosecuted this case.

On October 13, 2023, Mr. Fitzgerald approached the victim, who is homeless and physically disabled, while she was sleeping on a sidewalk in downtown Beaverton. Mr. Fitzgerald offered the victim money, which she declined. He then struck the victim and began kicking the victim in the face with his steel-toed boots. This caused a complex fracture of her nasal and orbital bones. Then, in a more secluded area nearby, Mr. Fitzgerald physically and sexually assaulted her for approximately 40 minutes. The victim testified that she could not escape because she was confined to a wheelchair and could not move fast enough to get away from him. A majority of the crime was captured on surveillance video from a nearby business.

The attack was interrupted by a street sweeper who drove into the parking lot where the assault was occurring. Mr. Fitzgerald fled the scene but was located by police at the Beaverton Transit Center approximately ten minutes later. Mr. Fitzgerald told responding officers that he did not remember anything that occurred after he offered the victim money. He allowed investigators to swab his body for DNA. Those samples showed the victim’s DNA present on the defendant’s body.

The defendant was also indicted on a charge of bias crime in the first degree. During the trial, the judge removed that count from jury consideration and issued a judgment of acquittal, finding that no reasonable jury could conclude that Mr. Fitzgerald targeted the victim because of her disability.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office acknowledges the bravery of the victim in participating in the legal process. This office also thanks the Beaverton Police Department and the Oregon State Police Forensic Laboratory for their work on this case.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 17, 2025. The defendant will remain in custody pending sentencing. 

Former High School Student Teacher Sentenced To 36 Months In Prison For Inappropriate Relationship With Student (Photo) -01/08/25

HILLSBORO, Ore- On January 7, 2025, Mason Isaiah Dominguez, age 25, pleaded guilty to attempted using child in display of sexually explicit conduct, and two counts of luring a minor. Washington County Circuit Court Judge Janelle Wipper then sentenced the defendant to three years in prison and ordered he register as a sex offender. Deputy District Attorney Rayney Meisel prosecuted this case.

The defendant worked as a student teacher at Sherwood High School. In April of 2023, a student notified a faculty member that the defendant was messaging her via social media, a violation of school policy. School administrators confronted the defendant and he admitted to sending the messages. He was immediately fired and escorted from school property.
 

The following day, a second student reported she was in an inappropriate relationship with Mr. Dominguez. She told staff that she and the defendant exchanged hundreds of messages over social media. She reported that Mr. Dominguez sent her sexually graphic videos and photos of himself and requested she do the same.
 

A school resource officer with the Sherwood Police Department investigated this case and spoke with the defendant about these allegations. Mr. Dominguez initially denied any wrongdoing but admitted to the criminal activity once the sexually explicit videos, photos, and text messages were recovered from his phone.
 

In a powerful victim impact statement read in open court, the victim reported experiencing lasting trauma, “because someone who was supposed to be my teacher, and a trusted adult in my life, crossed every line he could cross.” As a result of the defendant’s actions, she said her life was negatively impacted in multiple ways.
 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the bravery of both students in reporting this abuse of power. This office also thanks the school resource officer, the Sherwood Police Department, and the Sherwood School District for their work and assistance on this case. 

Statement From The Law Enforcement Council Of Washington County -12/30/24

***The following is a statement on behalf of the Law Enforcement Council of Washington County***

HILLSBORO, Ore-  As the law enforcement leaders for Washington County, we are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the entire community.  This includes preventing crime, investigating crime, and holding those who commit crime responsible.  It also includes ensuring all community members—regardless of their race, sex, national origin, citizenship status, or any other factors—have full and equal access to our criminal justice system.

Under Oregon law, including Oregon’s longstanding sanctuary law, local law enforcement agencies enforce local laws while federal law enforcement entities enforce federal laws, including those related to immigration.  This framework provides clarity and balance regarding our respective roles.

We are proud that Washington County is one of the safest and most diverse communities in Oregon.  Our county is safer when all witnesses and victims can fully access our justice system to report crime and testify so that we can hold offenders accountable and keep our community safe.  Community members who feel they are being physically threatened should report those concerns to their local law enforcement agency.