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.

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.  

The following article was written by Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton

HILLSBORO, Ore.- I received a phone call not long ago from a young woman. The call was unexpected, as was the question she asked, “Do you remember me?”

As the District Attorney for Washington County, Oregon’s second most populous county, I have interacted with tens of thousands of people over the course of my career. I cannot honestly say that I remember each of them. But I absolutely did remember her.

The last time we had spoken was many years earlier during a difficult criminal trial. At that time, she was a thirteen-year-old victim and I was prosecuting her step-father for horrific sexual crimes he had committed against her. During the trial, I stood in court and announced that she would be my next witness. But when I walked into the hallway to get her, she was gone.

What do you do when your key witness is suddenly missing at the pivotal moment in the middle of a trial? Without her testimony, no matter how scared she might be, the case would fall apart and be dismissed. My mind raced as I frantically looked in the hallway for her, while the judge and jury waited in the courtroom for me.

I eventually found her hiding in the bathroom, afraid to come out to testify. No matter how much I reasoned and pleaded with her, she refused to budge. Finally, out of desperation I gave her my hand and asked her to take it so we could walk into the courtroom together. Surprisingly, she did. She approached the witness stand, took her oath to tell the truth, and revealed to the jury what had happened to her. Her step-father was convicted and she and I both moved on with our lives. I continued to prosecute criminals and eventually was elected as District Attorney. She continued to grow up.

And then many years later we reconnected with her phone call and her question, “Do you remember me?”

She called asking to interview me for a college assignment. We agreed to meet in person and when the interview finished, we talked about that moment when she was hiding in the bathroom. I asked her what she was thinking when she changed her mind and took my hand. Her response was startling.

She told me that in that instant, she knew she had a choice to make. She could stay in the bathroom and feel safe that day, but be scared the rest of her life. Or, she could take my hand and feel scared that day, but be safe for the rest of her life.

Safety is a fundamental right. Unlike the rights to speech, religion or property, the right to safety is not explicitly a constitutionally guaranteed right. But it is every bit as important. Without safety our society cannot function and our constitutional rights have no meaning.

Safety means being able to live, work and raise a family without fear of crime. It is knowing that when a crime occurs, justice will follow. When you call the police, they will come. When they come, they will protect. And when they protect by making an arrest, the district attorney will prosecute the criminal to safeguard the victim and the community.

These principles may seem self-evident. But we live in a time when they are under attack. We face extremists who advocate for defunding police, abolishing prisons and tearing down our public safety system. And we endure leaders who spread partisan rhetoric rather than demonstrating political courage.

The task of ensuring safe communities is more difficult today than perhaps any other time in our state’s modern history. Challenges from skyrocketing addiction, uncontrolled homelessness and dramatic increases in crime are spreading. In Portland alone, we have seen an unprecedented surge in violence. According to the Portland Police Bureau, there were 1,240 shootings during the past 12 months, compared to 388 during the calendar year 2019. And there have been 62 homicides in Portland so far in 2021, putting the city on a path to break the homicide record, again. While it might be tempting to assume that Portland’s problem will remain isolated, as the district attorney in the neighboring county, I can assure you that crime does not stop at the county line.

Despite these grim facts and difficult environment, this remains a struggle that we can win. I frequently hear people openly wonder why someone doesn’t do something. As a district attorney I can share that I am working with other public safety leaders to do all we can. But in our participatory system of government, where we share a common obligation to be informed and take action, our leaders need your help and, in some instances, your demand for action.

Just as that young victim of mine who was hiding in the bathroom recognized the need to stand up for her safety, I believe Oregonians who understandably are scared and appalled at the current state of affairs, must join together to ensure all of our safety.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- The Washington County District Attorney’s Office announced today that after careful consideration, a Washington County Grand Jury delivered a “not true bill” on two charges presented for consideration, and opted to move forward with two charges stemming from a deadly shooting on September 3, 2021. 

On October 4, 2021, the grand jury was presented with four charges for consideration: Second Degree Murder, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. The grand jury declined the charges of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon in the shooting death of Mark Eugene Stadamire. However, the grand jury did indict Kai Sebastian Stevenson on two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, relating to the unlawful possession of a concealed handgun.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the members of the grand jury for their thoughtful consideration of this matter.  

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On September 22, 2021, a Washington County jury found Diana Rodriguez guilty of three counts of first-degree rape, two counts of first-degree sodomy, second-degree rape, two counts of second-degree sodomy and four counts of using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct. On November 2, 2021, Washington County Circuit Court Judge Erik Buchér sentenced the defendant to 375 months in prison. Deputy District Attorney Chris Lewman prosecuted this case. 

DDA Lewman proved in court that the defendant sexually abused two children for many years. The abuse began when the victims were young children and continued into their teenage years.

The abuse came to light when one of the victims called police in May of 2019. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office immediately began investigating. The victims were interviewed by experts at CARES Northwest where they gave additional information on the abuse they endured.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the investigative work of Detective Mark Povolny of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. This office also commends the work of CARES Northwest and the Oregon Department of Human Services. Finally, this prosecution would not have been possible without the bravery shown by the victim in reporting the abuse to law enforcement.

A co-defendant, Cupertino Juarez-Hernandez, was also convicted for his role in these crimes and was sentenced to 55 years in prison. 

In addition to her prison sentence, Judge Buchér also ordered the defendant to undergo lifetime post-prison supervision, ordered she register as a sex offender and undergo sex offender treatment. She is also barred from having any contact with her victims. 

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On September 15, 2021, Angel Santana Miranda, age 20, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse and two counts of luring a minor. Deputy District Attorney Rayney Meisel prosecuted the case before Washington County Circuit Court Judge Eric Butterfield. 

In 2019, law enforcement tracked child pornography being downloaded from the defendant’s residence in Forest Grove, Oregon. After obtaining the necessary warrants, experts with the Washington County Digital Forensics Laboratory examined Mr. Miranda’s digital devices and discovered a cache of child sexual abuse and exploitation materials. Mr. Miranda had more than 10,000 images and videos of children ranging in age from infant to teens. Additionally, the defendant had an extensive chat history between himself and a 14-year-old girl living out of state. They exchanged nude images and videos and described sexually and violently explicit fantasies involving children and infants. Investigators were able to identify and contact two of the victims depicted in photos and videos. 

The defendant admitted to police that he downloaded the files over the course of five years. Law enforcement were able to identify and contact two of the victims depicted in the videos and photos on his devices. 

“Unfortunately, our office prosecutes a great deal of cases involving individuals who are downloading and sharing graphic child sexual abuse material,” said DDA Meisel. “What set this case apart, however, was the extremely graphic role-play fantasies he was engaging in with a child, about her and other children, paired with the fact that he had researched flights and travel logistics to get to the child’s out-of-state home.”

In July of 2020, while the defendant already knew he was under investigation, law enforcement received several cyber tips alerting them to additional concerning online behavior between Mr. Miranda and a young girl. Investigators confirmed that Mr. Miranda was again interacting inappropriately with the teen.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to commend the Forest Grove Police Department for their work on this case. This office also acknowledges the Washington County Digital Forensic Laboratory for its work in securing vital digital evidence. 

This office also urges parents to monitor the online activity of their children. For additional information on digital threats facing children and how to guard against them, please visit our website. 

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 5, 2021.