HILLSBORO, Ore- On April 18, 2024, Cristian Michael Abarca was sentenced to 150 months in prison under Measure 11 sentencing guidelines after he was convicted of two counts of Robbery in the First Degree. Senior Deputy District Attorney Andrew Freeman prosecuted this case.
On August 12, 2022, two brothers parked in front of a convenience store near SE 10th Ave and SE Baseline. When the driver got out to go inside, Mr. Abarca approached and got into the driver’s seat with a large fixed-blade knife. He then threatened the brother in the passenger seat, who fled the vehicle. The defendant drove off in the car which contained the victims’ paychecks and a cell phone. Thankfully, these were recovered when the brothers spotted their car abandoned nearby. At the time the robber’s identity was unknown.
On September 2, 2022, the defendant approached a man after he got off the bus with his groceries near that same convenience store. The defendant pulled a large, fixed-blade knife out of his sock and threatened to stab the victim if he didn’t hand over his phone and wallet. The victim gave the defendant his wallet and all the groceries he had just purchased. The defendant left the area on foot while the victim ran to the Hillsboro police station and reported the robbery. Police immediately began searching the area and arrested the defendant nearby. He had the victim’s wallet along with two fixed-blade knives, one in his sock and one in his waistband. Officers were able to return the groceries to the victim after a K9 found them in a vacant lot nearby.
Investigators later linked DNA evidence found on the steering wheel from the stolen car incident to the defendant and determined he had committed both robberies. While in detention at the Washington County Jail, the defendant assaulted two inmates in separate, unprovoked incidents. These actions, together with other factors including the defendant’s prior failure on domestic violence probation, were all cited by Judge Ricardo Menchaca when imposing the lengthy sentence.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the work of the Hillsboro Police Department in locating and arresting the defendant. Mr. Abarca will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.