HILLSBORO, Ore- Over the past four years, Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton has worked with a coalition of area leaders to establish Oregon’s first co-located child abuse and domestic violence center. That goal is one step closer to reality with the purchase of a new building that will be the future site of the Family Peace Center of Washington County.

Located in Hillsboro, Oregon, the 64,000-square-foot facility will be renovated to accommodate under one roof what is currently the Family Justice Center of Washington County, which includes the Domestic Violence Resource Center and other nonprofits and governmental organizations. Additionally, CARES Northwest, a Portland-based child abuse clinic, will join this new facility to provide child abuse evaluations and trauma therapy for Washington County children and families. Currently, services provided by these organizations are available but are in separate locations, including locations outside of the county in Portland, Oregon. This new facility will provide trauma-informed services for victims and survivors of all forms of family violence and trauma in one, easily accessible location.

“I am very proud to be part of the effort to establish the Family Peace Center,” said Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton.  “Our mission is to offer prevention, intervention, healing, and hope for victims and survivors of family violence and trauma. We have worked together with many partners including legislators, nonprofits, and community leaders to bring this vision to a reality so that we can keep our Washington County community safe.”

Slated to open in early 2026, the building will be designed to create trauma-informed spaces that help survivors feel safe and comfortable and will feature child and adult forensic medical services, bigger childcare areas, more space for advocacy and counseling, expanded court services, survivor community spaces, and more.

In 2021, the Oregon legislature awarded the coalition $6.65 million to cover the purchase and remodeling of a building for this purpose. That funding is comprised of $6.25 million in Oregon lottery bond funds and $400,000 in American Rescue Act Plan (ARPA) funds. In 2023, the Oregon legislature allocated an additional $4 million for this project, bringing the total amount to more than $11 million in funding support. 

District Attorney Barton wishes to thank those who helped make this possible, including overwhelming support from Washington County’s elected and community leaders. Click here to see the letters of support for this effort.

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

HILLSBORO, Ore- Community members and law enforcement officials throughout the tri-county area will convene this week for the eighth-annual Building Bridges of Understanding in Our Communities event on October 26, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This marks the first time the event will be held in person since 2019. It is open to the public and members of the media, prior registration is required. The summit is hosted by the Muslim Educational Trust (MET) in Tigard, Oregon. To register, please visit our website.

This year’s theme is “Confronting Bias Through Justice and Healing.” Criminal justice and community leaders will share perspectives in moderated panel discussions. Attendees will also explore the day’s topics in several moderated table discussions.

For seven consecutive years, leaders from public safety and civil society organizations have come together to build and strengthen trust in one another and to cultivate trust with the communities they serve. The annual event has been held at MET since its inception in the fall of 2016. Click here to view videos of prior events. To view a list of participating organizations, visit our website. Event sponsors can also be seen here.

For media inquiries or to book interviews with steering committee members, please contact Stephen Mayer of the Washington County District Attorney’s Office by emailing stephen_mayer@washingtoncountyor.gov or calling (971) 708-8219.

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

HILLSBORO, Ore- On October 10, 2023, following the completion of jury selection on the first day of trial, defendant Rian Alden pleaded guilty to Attempted Assault in the Second Degree, a felony. Senior Judge Beth Roberts sentenced the defendant to a suspended three-year prison sentence and formal probation to be supervised by the Washington County Community Corrections Department. Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeff Lesowski prosecuted the case against Mr. Alden. 

On March 30, 2018, Mr. Alden was working as a deputy in the Washington County Jail. The defendant was assigned to the intake area. The victim, Albert Molina, had just been arrested for DUII and was being processed into the jail by the defendant. Mr. Molina was intoxicated at the time and was struggling to comply with the defendant’s commands. During the booking photo process, the defendant rushed towards the victim and forced him into a wall. The incident knocked the victim unconscious. Mr. Molina was transported to the hospital where he was treated for significant injuries to the head. 

The defendant was indicted by a grand jury in 2020 for Assault in the Second Degree.  In 2021, the Oregon Supreme Court decided State v. Owen, which changed the legal proof requirements for that crime making convictions more difficult. Despite the change in Oregon law, this case proceeded to trial, with jury selection being completed on October 10, 2023. After jury selection, the defendant elected to change his plea. 

Importantly the victim, Mr. Molina, supported the resolution of the case.  Mr. Molina made it known that he did not want Mr. Alden to be a police officer again, he wanted the case to resolve with a plea, and did not want Mr. Alden to serve a prison sentence.  This felony resolution will accomplish all of those goals.

As part of the sentence, Judge Roberts also ordered the defendant to submit a DNA sample and to undergo an anger evaluation and treatment.  If Mr. Alden violates any terms of his supervision, the court will be able to impose the suspended three-year prison sentence. 

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

HILLSBORO, Ore- On October 6, 2023, a Washington County jury found Edi Villalobos Jr. guilty of Murder in the Second Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, two counts of Burglary in the First Degree, two counts of Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, Reckless Driving, and Recklessly Endangering Another Person. Senior Deputy District Attorney John Gerhard and Deputy District Attorney Nadya Martin prosecuted the case before Judge Eric Butterfield. 

On April 10, 2021, the defendant and his girlfriend visited his mother’s house in Cornelius, Oregon. His mother was in a long-term relationship with the victim, Artemio Guzman-Olvera, and the pair lived together in the home. When the victim arrived home from work, the defendant rushed towards him and stabbed him repeatedly with a knife. Family members were unaware of any dispute between the two and the attack was unprovoked. 

Family members rendered aid to the victim until first responders could arrive. The victim was flown to an area hospital where he later died from numerous stab wounds. The defendant and his girlfriend fled the scene in their vehicle. 

The pair then drove to Wilsonville, Oregon to meet up with two friends. All four people were inside an apartment when the defendant attacked the two friends with the same knife he used to murder Artemio Guzman-Olvera in another unprovoked attack. The male victim suffered serious injuries but was able to alert law enforcement. This incident was prosecuted by the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office, and the defendant pled guilty in that case to Assault in the First Degree and was sentenced to 90 months in prison. 

The defendant fled the Wilsonville scene back towards Tigard, and numerous officers responded to the area and eventually located the defendant’s vehicle. He then led officers on a chase at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour through dense traffic. The defendant eventually could not maneuver through traffic and fled his vehicle on foot, leaving his girlfriend behind.  The defendant jumped over several fences and fled into the Summerfield retirement community.

A short time later, the defendant broke into a home in Tigard, Oregon. An elderly couple was inside the residence at the time. He told them he needed help and began washing his hands and clothing with cleaning supplies. He attempted to steal the homeowner’s clothing as well. At some point, the homeowner received a phone call from a neighbor during which he was able to discretely ask the neighbor to call 9-1-1, which she did. The defendant became increasingly agitated and fled the home, running deeper into the Summerfield community, where he was ultimately arrested by police. 

Detectives obtained search warrants for the vehicle the defendant was driving and the home where the initial stabbing took place. They found blood, bloody clothing, and a knife in the car. They also found a sheath in the home that matched that of the knife found in the vehicle. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the work of the Washington County Major Crimes Team and all agencies who helped search for and apprehend the suspect. 

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 20, 2023. The defendant will remain in custody until that time. 

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

HILLSBORO, Ore- On Wednesday, October 3, the Washington County Board of Commissioners voted to accept $533,200 in grant funds from the United States Department of Justice. The grant, “Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA,” will support continued efforts to prosecute cold cases with DNA evidence. This is a competitive grant award intended to increase the capacity of state and local prosecution offices to address violent crime cold cases.

The District Attorney's Office was awarded a similar grant in 2020 enabling the creation of the Cold Case Unit. The Cold Case Unit is operated in partnership with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. That initial funding helped investigators identify a suspect in a 1988 homicide. The case remained unsolved until this office used DNA evidence to identify Robert Elmer Atrops as the suspect. Mr. Atrops has since been arrested and charged with Murder in the Second Degree in the death of his estranged wife. 

“We are very pleased to be awarded another federal grant which allows us to pursue justice for victims of crimes, no matter how much time has passed,” said District Attorney Kevin Barton.  “The Washington County DA’s Office Cold Case Unit has shown incredible progress in the last three years, and we look forward to working to solve more cases with this additional grant funding.”

In 2020, this office conducted a review of all cold case homicides to identify their potential to be prosecuted with additional investigation. Of the 43 identified 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 contain DNA evidence. This office is confident many of these crimes can be solved. 

This grant award will allow this office to continue working on resolving cold case homicides by funding two part-time investigators, one part-time forensic consultant, and other associated expenses through September 30, 2026. This grant also supports the unit’s work to inventory and investigate additional cold case violent crimes including sexual assaults. We are hopeful that through these efforts, victims will 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. 

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

HILLSBORO, Ore- On September 26, 2023, Lauro Vazquez-Cordova plead guilty to three counts of Rape in the Second Degree and three counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. Deputy District Attorney Chris Lewman prosecuted the case against the defendant. 

The defendant sexually abused two children. The abuse came to light in January 2022 after one of the victims confided in a school counselor. That counselor immediately notified the Oregon Department of Human Services, which in turn alerted the Forest Grove Police Department.

Investigators met with the victims as did medical experts at CARES Northwest. The victims provided details of the abuse which occurred in multiple locations across Washington County, Oregon. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the victims for their bravery in reporting the defendant's actions and for their courage throughout the judicial process. This office also acknowledges the work of the Forest Grove Police Department, Hillsboro Police Department, DHS, and CARES Northwest. 

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 11, 2023. The defendant will remain in custody until that time. 

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

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