Between distanced learning, social media apps and cyber predators, parents have a lot to keep in mind when it comes to keep their kids safe online. Senior Deputy District Attorney Andy Pulver recently discussed the best ways to protect your children from those who look to take advantage of them during a virtual presentation.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On December 4, 2020, Judge Andrew Erwin sentenced Todd Alan Ott to 150 months in prison after the defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree sodomy, two counts of third-degree sodomy, two counts of second-degree unlawful sexual penetration, six counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of second-degree sexual abuse. Deputy District Attorney Rayney Meisel prosecuted the case against Mr. Ott.

In September of 2019, one of two known victims disclosed Mr. Ott had abused her on a regular basis over a span of six months, beginning when she was 13 years old. The child reported her family had been living with Mr. Ott in Forest Grove, Oregon and that her parents may have known about the abuse and allowed it to continue. A second victim also reported abuse beginning when she was 11 years old and living with the defendant. The defendant used violence, threats, and a fear of homelessness to keep the girls from reporting the abuse. 

An acquaintance of the defendant reported Mr. Ott had bragged about sexually abusing a young girl in 2015.

“Todd Ott preyed on these vulnerable children who needed help and a safe place to live. Instead, they were subjected to fear, abuse, and violence,” said Deputy District Attorney Meisel.

At a sentencing hearing, the victims told Mr. Ott that they would not allow his abuse to define them or prevent them from accomplishing their goals.    

The victims’ parents were also arrested and indicted on charges related to abuse and neglect.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to commend the victims for their bravery in reporting the abuse. This office also thanks the Oregon Department of Human Services, the Forest Grove Police Department and CARES Northwest for their work on this case.

Mr. Ott will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.

Media contact information
Stephen Mayer
Public Information Officer
971-708-8219

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On December 1, 2020, Judge Andrew Erwin found Alexander Tynell Williams guilty of first-degree assault, third-degree assault and first-degree criminal mistreatment in a bench trial. On December 15, 2020, Judge Erwin sentenced the defendant to 90 months in prison. Deputy District Attorney Rayney Meisel prosecuted the case against Mr. Williams. 

Mr. Williams had been caring for the seven-month-old victim, along with the baby’s two toddler brothers, for approximately three hours on November 24, 2019.  When he returned the children to his mother, she noticed her toddlers had bruises on their faces and her infant had extensive and significant bruising to his face and torso. The baby’s four-year-old brother told his mother the defendant hit him and the baby. 

Medics were called and a full body inspection revealed severe injuries to the child’s genitals and abdomen. The injuries to the infant required immediate hospitalization. When confronted by family members, Mr. Williams denied any knowledge of what caused the injuries to the child, despite having been the last person to change the child’s diaper.

Hillsboro police and the Oregon Department of Human Services were notified and attempted contact with Mr. Williams. The defendant agreed to meet with investigators but failed to appear at the scheduled meeting. He eluded authorities for approximately five months. A grand jury indicted Mr. Williams on several charges on February 10, 2020 and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was ultimately taken into custody by the Portland Police Bureau after he was involved in a two-vehicle crash. Mr. Williams was identified as one of the drivers involved in the collision. After initially denying he was driving the vehicle, he later admitted that he was operating the vehicle at the time of the crash. 

“The child is doing well, but his recovery is on-going and he continues to be monitored by medical professionals. It remains unclear how these injuries and this trauma will affect him in the future,” DDA Meisel said of the victim’s current condition.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the work of the Hillsboro Police Department including Detective Tobby Cook. This office also thanks Randall’s Children’s Hospital, CARES Northwest, the Oregon Department of Human Services and the Portland Police Bureau for their work on this case.

Media contact information
Stephen Mayer
Public Information Officer
971-708-8219

HILLSBORO, Ore.-Distanced learning, popular social media applications and video games. Our children are more connected to the internet than ever before, and cyber predators know it. These predators are using proven methods along with new strategies to connect with kids in an effort to take advantage of them.

Fortunately, there are steps parents can take to keep their kids safe online. Senior Deputy District Attorney Andy Pulver leads the Child Abuse Team for the Washington County District Attorney’s Office. He knows firsthand the strategies these predators use to exploit children. Join us for a virtual discussion as Mr. Pulver details the latest threats kids face and how parents can guard against them.

Event Details:

Thursday, December 10th

5:30-6:30 PM

Click Here to Register

We will also be streaming this presentation live on our Facebook page

In the News:

Senior Deputy District Attorney Andy Pulver joined KOIN-TV's AM Extra to discuss the dangers kids face online and what you can expect to learn during our webinar. Watch the segment for additional details. 

Media contact information
Stephen Mayer
Public Information Officer
971-708-8219

HILLSBORO, Ore.- The Washington County District Attorney’s Office was awarded $470,000 in grant funding to investigate and prosecute violent crime cold cases that involve identified DNA associated with a possible suspect. The grant, “Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA,” is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.

This office recently conducted a review of all major cold cases to identify their potential to be prosecuted with additional investigation. A cold case is defined as a case three or more years old that is not under active investigation. Of the 43 identified homicide cases dating back to 1968, at least 14 contain DNA evidence. Additionally, there are potentially hundreds of unsolved sexual assault cases over the decades that also contain DNA evidence. This office is confident many of these cases can be solved, the victims associated with them can receive the justice they deserve, the community at large can receive a sense of resolution and those who committed these crimes can finally be held responsible. This grant will allow additional resources and modern forensic tools to be used.

The grant funding will allow this office to hire one full-time investigator to pursue violent crime cold cases where suspect DNA has been identified. Additionally, this office would use a small portion of the funds to hire a forensic consultant. These new resources, combined with advances in DNA testing and related databases, will improve the chances of resolving these cases. Those hired for these two new positions will work with a prosecutor and victim advocate to form a Violent Crime Cold Case Multidisciplinary Team (MDT).  The MDT would work together to solve and prosecute violent crime cold cases in Washington County and in partnership with existing resources, including the Washington County Major Crimes Team.

“Holding criminals accountable no matter how long they have hidden their crime is a fundamental component of justice. While these cases may be labeled as “cold cases,” to the victims and their families, they are as just as real and important today as they were when the crime occurred many years ago. This office and Washington County law enforcement now have added tools to help provide some resolution and obtain justice,” said District Attorney Kevin Barton.

This grant adds to the continued work of this office to resolve unsolved cases. For example, this office has worked in conjunction with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to test sexual assault kits and to collect DNA from offenders who are legally required to provide it.

Cold Case Spotlight

The 2001 murder of Loni Okaruru, a transgender woman, remains one of the 43 cold cases identified for renewed investigation under this grant funding. Ms. Okaruru was found murdered in Hillsboro, Oregon. This horrifying crime shook the community then and continues to cause pain today. Copied below is a news clipping regarding this case from 2001.

If you have any information on this murder, or any cold cases in Washington County, please contact your local law enforcement agency.

Media contact information
Stephen Mayer
Public Information Officer
971-708-8219

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On October 23, 2020, Adam Michael Wallace pleaded guilty to two counts of using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct and two counts of luring a minor. Mr. Wallace was sentenced to 30 years in prison by Judge Erik Buchèr. Senior Deputy District Attorney Allison Brown prosecuted the case against the defendant.

The defendant is a convicted sex offender and was released from prison in 2017. In March of 2019, law enforcement in Marion County, Oregon conducted a traffic stop and arrested the defendant who was driving with a juvenile at the time. Investigators conducted a search warrant on the defendant’s phone and found a significant amount of text messages and photos. Investigators were able to identify multiple minors that the defendant was having unlawful contact with. Four of those victims were from Washington County, Oregon.

Investigators established a pattern of conduct concerning the defendant. In many cases, Mr. Wallace would contact his victims via popular social media applications and pose as a young boy. He would then engage in sexually charged messaging, ask for photos of the victims and in some instances, he purchased cell phones and credit cards for his victims. Eventually, Mr. Wallace would convince these minors to meet in person so that he could sexually abuse them.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the work of Detective Ryan Hickey of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office in Washington state for their work on this case. This office also wishes to acknowledge and commend the victims for their bravery and strength throughout the investigation.  

In addition to his prison sentence, Mr. Wallace was ordered to undergo three years of post-prison supervision. Judge Buchèr also ordered he have no contact with minors upon his release and that he stay at least three miles away from his victims. The defendant is also facing additional charges in both Marion County and Cowlitz County. Mr. Wallace will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to serve his sentence.

Media contact information
Stephen Mayer
Public Information Officer
971-708-8219

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