HILLSBORO, Ore.- On July 15, 2021, Josiah Augustine Johnson pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and unlawful use of a weapon, involving the use of a firearm. On July 26, 2021, Judge Oscar Garcia sentenced the defendant to 70 months in prison. Senior Deputy District Attorney Allison Brown prosecuted the defendant. 

On September 14, 2020 the defendant requested a cab ride from Gresham, Oregon to Beaverton, Oregon. When the driver arrived, he noticed the defendant acting strangely and asked to be paid for the ride up front. The defendant pulled out cash and the driver immediately noticed a counterfeit bill. The driver then asked the defendant to give him his cell phone as collateral until the ride was complete. 

At one point during the ride, Mr. Johnson asked the victim if he had “personal protection” on him. The driver confirmed he did not have a gun. Once the ride concluded, the defendant tried to pay the driver with the counterfeit bill he spotted earlier. The driver refused to take payment and told the defendant he would not return his cell phone until he was paid properly. 

The defendant then pulled a gun and pointed it at the victim as he made threats and demanded his phone back. Fearing for his life, the victim attempted to grab the gun and the two struggled over the firearm. At some point the weapon discharged, striking the defendant in the buttocks. The victim then secured the weapon while witnesses called law enforcement.

Deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene. They learned the firearm was stolen. The defendant later admitted the gun was illegal.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to commend the victim for their actions and participation in the court process. This office also thanks the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case. 

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

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On July 16, 2021, a Washington County jury convicted Francisco-Javier Hernandez-Esteban, age 33, of 11 counts of first-degree sexual abuse. On September 9, 2021, Judge Ricardo Menchaca sentenced the defendant to 180 months in prison. Deputy District Attorney Rayney Meisel prosecuted the case against the defendant. 

In May of 2019, one of the victims in this case told a teacher that a man she knew was abusing her. The teacher alerted the Oregon Department of Human Services which launched an investigation in tandem with the Tualatin Police Department. Over the course of the investigation, police identified the defendant and learned about a second victim in Washington County, Oregon that he was also abusing. As the investigation unfolded, detectives spoke with other children known to the defendant and learned of an additional child who also reported abuse. Charges related to that victim are pending in Clackamas County, Oregon. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to commend the victims in this case for disclosing the abuse and for having the courage to participate in the defendant’s trial. This office also thanks the Oregon Department of Human Services, the Tualatin Police Department and CARES Northwest for their work on this case.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On July 13, 2021, Javier Avitia was convicted of first-degree burglary, first-degree theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Judge Eric Butterfield then sentenced the defendant to 24 months in prison. Deputy District Attorney Jason Ring prosecuted the defendant.

The victims in this case were out of state at the time of the burglary. They arranged for family members to housesit while they were away. A family member went to the home on December 2, 2018 and immediately noticed signs of a burglary. A door was pried open, a large television was moved to the garage and the family car was stolen. Additionally, many drawers were opened and the whole home had been ransacked. A large safe was also missing.

Over the course of the next year, investigators with the Hillsboro Police Department extensively investigated the case. They used a GPS device to locate the stolen vehicle. They found a receipt in the car from an area cannabis store. They then used store surveillance footage to identify a possible suspect. Investigators also learned that someone synched two phones to the car’s system after they stole it. That information led to other persons of interest, one of whom identified Mr. Avitia’s involvement in the burglary. Law enforcement also confirmed that the defendant sold some of the stolen property to an area pawn shop on December 5, 2018, shortly after the burglary.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to commend the victims in this case for their assistance in the investigation and involvement in the criminal justice process. This office also acknowledges the work of the Hillsboro Police Department as well as that of Detective Sufyan Sher.

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

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On July 1, 2021, Judge Janelle Wipper sentenced Ryan Scott Keanaaina, age 44, to 449 months in prison. On June 25, 2021, a Washington County jury found the defendant guilty of first-degree rape, three counts of first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of luring a minor, three counts of third-degree sexual abuse, private indecency, first-degree attempted sexual abuse and third-degree attempted sexual abuse. Many of the defendant's convictions entailed mandatory minimum sentences under Oregon's Measure 11 law. For that reason, along with Judge Wipper's decision to prohibit time reduction programs on non-Measure 11 counts, the defendant will serve the entirety of this sentence without early release. Senior Deputy District Attorney Andy Pulver prosecuted the case against the defendant.

In 2012, a teenage girl known to the defendant reported that Mr. Keanaaina sexually abused her. She also shared the account with a friend. Authorities investigated the case, but insufficient evidence was found to support criminal charges at the time. A person close to the defendant also persuaded the friend to not verify the claims made by the victim.  

In the coming years a second victim reported to a family member that Mr. Keanaaina was sexually abusing her. That family member did not report the allegations to police and the abuse continued.

In October of 2017, the second victim decided to report the abuse to additional family members who in turn notified police. Hillsboro police investigated the case. Over the course of this investigation, police spoke with the first victim’s friend once again. This woman explained to investigators how she was convinced to mislead police. During the conversation, this woman also reported that she was abused by the defendant. This victim worked with police as they continued their investigation.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the bravery of the victims throughout this process. This office also thanks the Hillsboro Police Department, Detective Michelle Hahn, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Sergeant Robert Rookhuyzen and CARES Northwest for their work on this case.

In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Wipper ordered the defendant to register as a sex offender. Upon release, the defendant will remain on post-prison supervision for the remainder of his life. The defendant will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On June 17, 2021, Jontay Joseph Cox pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder and was sentenced to 90 months in prison by Presiding Judge Beth Roberts. Senior Deputy District Attorney Jeff MacLean prosecuted the case against the defendant.

In the early morning hours of April 21, 2021, the victim in this case noticed someone inside his car in an apartment complex parking lot located in Beaverton, Oregon. The victim went to investigate and found the defendant inside his vehicle. He confronted Mr. Cox and ordered him to get out of the car.

Mr. Cox exited the vehicle and began to walk away. The victim then turned his back to the defendant so he could lock his vehicle when the defendant fired five rounds from a handgun towards the victim. One bullet struck the victim in the arm. Several other rounds hit the exterior of the apartment building. Fortunately, no one else was wounded and the victim eventually made a full recovery.

Patrol deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office quickly responded to the scene and located the suspect a short time later. After securing a search warrant for Mr. Cox’s vehicle, investigators found the handgun used in the shooting along with five shell casings still in the firearm.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the work of the patrol deputies who responded to the scene, Detective Timothy Miller and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

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

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On June 9, 2021, Ryan Javier Gonzalez, age 36, pleaded guilty to first-degree online sex corruption and two counts of luring a minor. Judge Erik Buchér then sentenced the defendant to five years in prison. Deputy District Attorney Matt Wise prosecuted the case against the defendant.

In March of 2020, Beaverton Police Detective Chad Opitz created a profile on a social networking site known to be associated with illegal activity. The profile purported to belong to a mother of a 10-year-old girl. That same day, Mr. Gonzalez, who was already a convicted sex offender at the time, messaged the account. The defendant offered to be the girl’s “teacher” and described in graphic detail the sexual activities he wanted to subject the child to. He also sent graphic videos to the account and asked that they be shown to the girl.

A few days after this initial contact, the defendant messaged the account again. He sent additional graphic images and agreed to meet the mother and daughter at a location in Beaverton, Oregon. He did arrive at that location but noticed a police car and fled the area.

Just four days later, the defendant began messaging the account again. He agreed to meet the child at a park and promised to bring a condom with him. Undercover officers watched as Mr. Gonzalez arrived at the park. He was then arrested. Officers found a condom in his pocket.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the work of Detective Chad Opitz and the Beaverton Police Department on this case.

In addition to his prison sentence, Mr. Gonzalez was also ordered to undergo three years of post-prison supervision, register as a sex offender and complete child sex abuse treatment. Mr. Gonzalez will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.