HILLSBORO, Ore.- On May 20, 2019, a Washington County jury found Todd Allen Wymer guilty of First-Degree Sodomy, Second-Degree Sex Abuse and three counts of Luring a Minor. Deputy District Attorney Chris Lewman prosecuted the case against Wymer in Judge Ricardo Menchaca’s courtroom.

The victim in this case was known to Wymer and was just 14-years-old when he began grooming her to be sexually abused. The victim told investigators that Wymer would give her alcohol, marijuana and other drugs and ordered her to keep this arrangement a secret from others.

Eventually, Wymer began withholding these items unless the victim agreed to engage in sexual conduct with him. That abuse began with kissing and touching but quickly escalated.

The victim first made a disclosure of abuse in 2011. At the time, Wymer admitted to the drug use but denied any sexual abuse occurred. The victim then moved out of state and indicated she did not want to move forward with the case.

In 2017, the victim contacted King City Police once again. She reported she was suffering from the trauma of the abuse and was ready to pursue charges against Wymer. Her testimony proved vital in securing a conviction against him.

This case demonstrates the complexity and difficulty associated with prosecuting crimes involving sexual abuse. These cases can be especially challenging to prove and often times victims are not able or ready to proceed right away. We commend the victim in this case for coming forward and showing the courage to confront her abuser in court.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the investigative work on this case by King City Police Chief Ernest Happala and Officer Shelby Thatcher.

Sentencing is set for July 10, 2019. Wymer will remain in custody until that time.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On May 20, 2019, Brian David Couture pleaded guilty to Initiating a False Report. Judge Beth Roberts ordered Couture to perform 80 hours of community service and to pay restitution. Deputy District Attorney Thomas James Belesiu prosecuted the case against Couture.

On March 6, 2019, Couture called Forest Grove Police to report a robbery at his residence. He told law enforcement at the time that someone broke into his home and assaulted him. Arriving officers found the home was ransacked and spotted blood strewn about the residence. Couture’s work laptop was damaged and approximately $700 was missing from a jar containing his daughter’s cookie sale proceeds.

Investigators quickly spotted inconsistencies in Couture’s story and began to challenge his account of what happened. Eventually, Couture admitted he falsified the report. Couture told police that he stole the money from his daughter to pay for an erotic massage and faked the robbery when he realized he couldn’t explain the missing funds.

Judge Roberts imposed a $100 fine on Couture and he will also be placed on probation. The amount of restitution to be paid will be determined at a later date.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On May 2, 2019, Jonathan Guzman was sentenced to 75 months in prison by Judge Ricardo Menchaca. On April 19, 2019, Guzman pleaded guilty to Second-Degree Manslaughter and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Deputy District Attorney Nadya Martin prosecuted the case against Guzman.

On July 28, 2018, Guzman was intoxicated and driving at speeds approaching 100 miles per hour when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a light pole along Beaverton Hillsdale Highway. The crash killed his passenger, the mother of three children. Guzman was taken to the hospital and was found to have a blood alcohol level of .161, more than twice the legal limit. Several beer cans were also found near the crash site.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the work of the multi-agency Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team (CART) for their work on this case. We would also like to acknowledge the courage of the victim’s three children who all wrote victim impact statements to be considered at the sentencing hearing.

Guzman has been transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.