HILLSBORO, Ore.- The Washington County District Attorney’s Office has been awarded $300,000 in competitive grant funding intended to combat a rise in bias/hate crimes. Incidents of bias crimes are increasing not only nationally, but in Oregon as well, a trend this office has observed over the past two years. 

The funding, provided by the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Program Grant administered by the United States Department of Justice, will enable this office to launch a new Bias Crime Multidisciplinary Team (MDT). The MDT will consist of members from law enforcement agencies and community partner organizations. The team will meet regularly to discuss and implement strategies to combat bias and hate crime, including trainings, education, and outreach events. Senior Deputy District Attorney Allison Brown, who has extensive experience prosecuting cases with vulnerable crime victims, will Chair the MDT. 

Additionally, this funding will allow this office to support victim advocate positions dedicated to serving bias crime victims. These advocates will support the complex needs of these crime victims. 

“This federal grant allows us to pursue our mission of seeking justice and protecting our community by ensuring all Washington County residents are safe from crime, especially including bias and hate crime. As District Attorney, I am committed to protecting all members of our community,” said DA Barton.

This office wishes to thank the following agencies and organizations for their support in this endeavor: the Washington County Law Enforcement Council, the Washington County Family Justice Center, the Sexual Assault Resource Center, El Programa Hispano Catolico, African Youth and Community Organization, Lutheran Community Services Northwest, and Immigration and Refugee Community Organization.

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

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On October 28, 2021, Ryan Lee Geiger pleaded guilty to using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct and first-degree attempted sex abuse. Deputy District Attorney Sara Loebner prosecuted the defendant before Washington County Circuit Court Judge Erik Buchér.

In October of 2020, one of Mr. Geiger’s two teenaged victims made a disclosure of sexual abuse to a mandatory reporter. She later gave additional information about the abuse to experts at the Children’s Justice and Advocacy Center in Cowlitz County, Washington. She explained to investigators how the defendant abused her at his home in Forest Grove, Oregon while she was a minor. 

During the course of the investigation, detectives also learned of a second victim who reported similar abuse by the defendant. In this instance, the defendant requested the victim, who was a minor at the time, send him sexually explicit photos which he later shared with another adult.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to commend the victims for having the courage to report this abuse. This office would also like to acknowledge the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, including Detective Mark Povolny, for their work on this case, as well as the Children’s Justice and Advocacy Center for their assistance.

Mr. Geiger 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.- October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month. This month and beyond, please join the Washington County DA’s Office and Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) to encourage safe infant sleep and to raise awareness about SIDS. 

Nationally, approximately 3,400 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly each year. The causes of these sleeping deaths include accidental suffocation or strangulation, sudden infant death syndrome, and unknown causes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these deaths impact children of all races and ethnicities, but are disproportionately present in several demographic groups.

In Oregon, about 40 babies die in their sleep every year. Oregon has the highest rate of unexplained infant deaths on the West Coast, approximately 22% higher than Washington and 72% higher than California.

Many of these deaths can be prevented by ensuring a safe sleeping environment for babies. Experts recommend putting babies to sleep on their back, removing loose bedding and blankets and using a firm sleeping surface.

To help reduce infant deaths, the Washington County District Attorney’s Office and Child Abuse MDT have partnered with the national Cribs for Kids Program to provide free Cribette Kits to eligible families residing in Washington County. In addition to providing a free portable crib, infant sleep sack and educational materials, MDT community partners will provide safe sleep education for eligible families.

“In my role as both a dad and the DA, I am excited about this new program to provide families with safe sleep cribs, clothing and education,” said Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton. “Our goal is to stop every preventable child death and this takes our community a huge step in that direction.”

For more information on this program and to apply for a Cribette Kit, please visit the Washington County DA’s Office website

Additional Resources:

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website
  2. Oregon Health Authority website
  3. Photos courtesy Cribs for Kids.
Media contact information
Stephen Mayer
Public Information Officer
971-708-8219

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On October 8, 2021, a Washington County jury convicted Patricia Marie Deangelis of criminally negligent homicide. Deputy District Attorney Matt Wise prosecuted the defendant before Judge Ramón Pagán. 

On November 25, 2019, the defendant was operating a commercial dump truck when she ran a red light and collided with a vehicle at the intersection of Southeast Baseline Street and South First Avenue in Hillsboro, Oregon. A passenger in the second vehicle later died as a result of her injuries. 

Investigators with the Hillsboro Police Department and the Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team (CART) responded to the scene. Using video depicting the crash and other investigative methods, they determined the traffic signal at the intersection in question was red in the direction of travel for Ms. Deangelis for more than seven seconds prior to the collision. The defendant, who was previously convicted of driving with drugs or a metabolite in her system stemming from a 2007 case in Arizona, told investigators that she swerved to avoid a separate collision prior to this crash and was distracted as a result. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the work of Hillsboro police and CART on this case. This office also sends its sympathies to the victim’s family and loved ones. 

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 6, 2021. 

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

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On September 27, 2021, Quentin Lashawn Covington pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated theft and was sentenced to 26 months in prison by Judge Chris Colburn. Deputy District Attorney David Pitcher prosecuted the case against the defendant. 

The defendant stole more than $35,000 in merchandise between October of 2020 and June of 2021 from multiple locations of a well-known beauty supply company across the Portland Metro area. 

On 16 separate occasions, the defendant carried out essentially the same plan. He would enter the store and immediately start loading a bag or basket with expensive perfume and cologne. As evidenced in surveillance camera footage from multiple locations, the defendant would then brazenly exit the store with the merchandise. In most cases, the defendant was in and out of the store in less than two minutes. 

Detectives with the Tigard Police Department investigated the case. They worked with other jurisdictions including the Portland Police Bureau to ultimately identify the defendant as the suspect in the case, as some of the thefts were committed in the city of Portland, Oregon.  A Washington County grand jury then indicted the defendant leading to a warrant for his arrest. 

This office would like to acknowledge the Tigard Police Department and Portland Police Bureau for their work in identifying Mr. Covington based on review of the surveillance footage. 

In addition to his prison time, Judge Colburn also ordered the defendant to pay more than $35,000 in restitution and ordered him to stay away from the businesses he targeted upon his release.

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

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On October 6, 2021, Kenrry Hoag Bay pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery, two counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, two counts of driving under the influence of intoxicants, identity theft and menacing and was sentenced to 110 months in prison by Washington County Circuit Court Judge Eric Buchér. Deputy District Attorney Bryce Bissinger prosecuted the cases against the defendant. 

Mr. Bay, who was already on probation out of Deschutes County, Oregon on a second-degree burglary charge, committed multiple crimes during a two-month period. Between March 10, 2021 and May 20, 2021, Mr. Bay stole three vehicles, committed five separate identity thefts, drove under the influence of intoxicants at last twice, committed one act of second-degree robbery, and one act of second-degree burglary. He also crashed into two vehicles while driving in an impaired state and threatened to kill a random stranger while holding a cup of gasoline. 

Beaverton police and the Washington County Sherriff’s Office investigated these crimes and arrested the defendant. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt as a result of Mr. Bay’s actions. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the work of the Beaverton Police Department and the Washington County Sherriff’s Office on these cases. We also commend the victims for aiding in the prosecution of the defendant. 

In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Buchér also ordered the defendant to serve three years of post-prison supervision upon his release and to pay restitution to his victims.  

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

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