HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 5, 2022, a Washington County jury found Mark Charles Anderson guilty of unlawful use of a weapon and menacing. Judge Andrew Erwin then sentenced the defendant to 90 days in jail and formal probation. Senior Deputy District Attorney Jeff MacLean prosecuted the case against Mr. Anderson. 

The victim in this case is the defendant’s mother whom he lived with in Washington County, Oregon. The victim contacted the Elder Safe program operated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to seek information about a restraining order against her son. She reported to a program specialist that the defendant was behaving erratically and often verbally abused her. She hoped a judge would grant the order so that the defendant would be forced to move out of her home. 

On November 3, 2021, the victim called her program specialist with Elder Safe. She reported the defendant was acting erratically once again and had concerns for her safety because of his behavior that day. She pleaded with the sheriff’s office employee to come to her home so they could complete the needed paperwork for the restraining order. That staff member could hear the defendant yelling obscenities in the background and could sense the victim was very afraid in that moment. The program specialist called non-emergency dispatch immediately and requested a welfare check on the home. 

While deputies were en route, a concerned friend called emergency dispatch to report the defendant was threatening to kill his mother and burn the home to the ground with her inside of it. She also reported the defendant was armed with a spring-assisted knife. 

When deputies arrived, they spoke to the victim who confirmed her son threatened to stab her with the knife, which he displayed, and to burn the home down. The defendant was arrested without incident. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the quick thinking of the Elder Safe program specialist for aiding the victim in this case. This office also thanks sheriff’s deputies, including Deputy Brett Winders, and the victim for her participation in this process. 

Elder Safe is a member of the Washington County Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Team, which is comprised of this office, all law enforcement agencies in Washington County, Adult Protective Services, mental health, and other community partners. The Washington County Multidisciplinary Team reviews difficult elder abuse cases, develops investigative guidelines, identifies needed training, and helps coordinate procedures among agencies and other activities.

According to the National Council on Aging, in almost 60% of elder abuse and neglect incidents, the perpetrator is a family member. To confidentially report suspected elder abuse or neglect, call Adult Protective Services in Washington County at (971) 673-5200.  If you suspect a crime, call your local police department. If you just need more information, call Elder Safe at (503) 846-6048.

In addition to his jail sentence, Judge Erwin also ordered the defendant to have no contact with the victim going forward and to engage in applicable treatment programs. 

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 4, 2022, Kenneth William Thomas, age 57, pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual abuse and was sentenced to 75 months in prison by Washington County Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Proctor. Senior Deputy District Attorney Allison Brown prosecuted the case against the defendant. 

On January 1, 2021, the defendant, who was already a convicted sex offender, approached the 21-year-old victim at a bus stop in Cornelius, Oregon. He was a complete stranger to the victim. He offered her methamphetamine and she refused and tried to ignore him. Both the victim and defendant then boarded the bus. 

The victim exited the bus in Forest Grove, Oregon and the defendant followed her. He then attacked her from behind and put his hand over her neck and mouth and asked her if she was ready to die. He pressed his body up against hers while in an aroused state, and they continued to struggle until the victim was able to escape his grasp. People in the area heard her screams and called police. 

Forest Grove police responded and found the defendant a few blocks away. He appeared to be under the influence and admitted to using methamphetamine that day. He had a variety of concerning items with him including a knife, latex gloves, and sex toys. He admitted he had contact with the victim and that she appeared to have developmental disabilities but denied touching her. The victim positively identified Mr. Thomas as her attacker. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the work of Forest Grove police and CARES Northwest on this case. The victim should also be commended for her courage in seeing the case through to prosecution. 

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

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On December 23, 2021, Washington County Circuit Court Judge Ricardo Menchaca sentenced Scott Christopher Smith, age 47, to 75 months in prison. On December 16, 2021, a jury found the defendant guilty of two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. Deputy District Attorney Jason Weiner prosecuted the case against Mr. Smith. 

In 2018, the defendant sexually abused a 12-year-old girl when he believed she was sleeping. The abuse was not reported until 2020, when the victim’s relative told a mandatory reporter. The Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Beaverton Police Department investigated the case.

During the sentencing hearing, DDA Weiner cited Mr. Scott’s criminal history related to abusing and neglecting children, including convictions for breaking the leg of his infant daughter and leaving his two young daughters unattended. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the bravery of the survivor in this case for participating in the court process. This office also thanks DHS and Beaverton police for their work on this case. 

The defendant will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence. 

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On December 21, 2021, Jarrod Deferrari pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery with a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon with a firearm, and attempted first-degree burglary. Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Erwin then sentenced the defendant to 90 months in prison. Senior Deputy District Attorney Andrew Freeman prosecuted the case against the defendant. 

The defendant was arrested after a riot in downtown Portland, Oregon on the night of November 4, 2020, in which it is alleged the defendant smashed the windows of multiple buildings, including the St. Andre Bessette Catholic church off of West Burnside Street. After being charged with riot and first-degree criminal mischief, the defendant was released from Multnomah County custody the next day. 

On May 19, 2021, while on release for the riot case, the defendant robbed a convenience store near Jesuit High School in Beaverton, Oregon. The defendant entered the store masked and wearing black from head to toe, leapt over the counter with a pistol in hand, and aimed the gun in the clerk’s face while demanding the victim open the cash drawer. The incident was captured on surveillance cameras, but the defendant fled the scene. The crime went unsolved for weeks as the assigned investigators continued efforts to identify the robber. 

Meanwhile, the defendant’s squatting in a nearby vacant home came to the attention of WCSO patrol deputies. On May 21, 2021, fire crews responded to a report of smoke from the home only to withdraw after encountering the defendant armed with a gun. On May 29, PPB officers arrested the defendant as he rode a TriMet bus from Beaverton to Portland while armed with a 12-gauge shotgun and a pistol. At that time, he was charged with weapons offenses in Multnomah County and also arrested for the incident on May 21. On June 3 the defendant was again arrested after deputies spotted Deferrari returning to the vacant residence. Finally, on June 8, deputies found the defendant inside the vacant home again and arrested Deferrari for first-degree burglary. The defendant spray-painted Antifa graffiti inside the home and told deputies that despite previous arrests, the defendant could use the house.   

WCSO Detectives then connected the defendant to the 7-11 robbery. By then the defendant was well known to WCSO patrol staff and a sergeant recognized the defendant in surveillance images circulated in a bulletin about the robbery. Investigators were then able to match various items to the robbery, including items found in the vacant house and the pistol seized by PPB on May 29. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the work of the WCSO and the Portland Police Bureau in these investigations, and also recognizes the lasting effects that violent crimes have on their victims and the community. The defendant will serve a 90-month sentence in the Department of Corrections for crimes committed in Washington County without the possibility of time reductions or early release. Before arriving at DOC the defendant will be transferred to the custody of Multnomah County to face prosecution on the riot and weapons charges.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On December 10, 2021, Washington County Circuit Court Judge Oscar Garcia sentenced Omar Nunez-Flores to 100 months in prison. On November 5, 2021, a jury found the defendant guilty of first-degree rape constituting domestic violence, first-degree burglary, and multiple counts of fourth-degree assault constituting domestic violence. Senior Deputy District Attorney Gina Skinner prosecuted the case against the defendant. 

On October 11, 2020, the defendant physically assaulted the victim in her home. The assault was witnessed by her minor child. She called police and he was arrested for causing an injury to her face by hitting her and interfering with her ability to call 9-1-1. The defendant was indicted for felony assault, harassment, and interfering with making a report. He was released with a No Contact Order with the victim and was awaiting trial when he committed the crimes that occurred on December 25, 2020.

Early in the morning of December 25, 2020, in violation of the No Contact Order, the defendant unlawfully entered the victim’s home through a broken window, physically assaulted her by kicking and biting her, and raped her. The victim’s teenage son heard the commotion and his mother’s cries for help. He called police and struggled with the defendant in an attempt to keep him in the apartment until officers could arrive. Unfortunately, Mr. Nunez-Flores fled the scene before officers could respond, leaving his shirt and hat behind. Law enforcement made multiple efforts to locate him, and he was ultimately arrested during a traffic stop months later. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to commend the victim and her son for reporting this abuse. This office also acknowledges the work of the Hillsboro Police Department on this case. 

The defendant will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.  

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On December 14, 2021, Mark Allen Seidel pleaded guilty to first-degree invasion of personal privacy. Deputy District Attorneys Sara Loebner and Mitchell Diesko prosecuted the case before Washington County Circuit Court Judge Oscar Garcia.

On September 17, 2019, an instructor at a swim school in Beaverton, Oregon, reported she was changing in the staff changing area when she noticed a cell phone recording in one of the staff cubbies. When she examined the phone, she saw that it had been recording for the past 30 minutes and was oriented in a way to capture those changing their clothes.

Beaverton police responded and began investigating. Staff linked the phone to the defendant, who was employed as a maintenance worker at the school. Mr. Seidel admitted to recording but claimed he did so due to recent thefts in the staff changing room. He refused to show his phone to police and a search warrant was executed. Investigators with the Washington County Digital Forensics Laboratory eventually confirmed the phone was recording at the time it was discovered.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the work of the Beaverton Police Department and the Washington County Digital Forensics Laboratory on this case.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 11, 2022 at 8:30 a.m.