HILLSBORO, Ore.- The following is a joint statement from District Attorney Kevin Barton of the Washington County District Attorney’s Office and Sheriff Pat Garrett of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office regarding the riot declared by the Tigard Police Department on Thursday, January 7, 2021:

While we respect the right to free speech and peaceful assembly afforded under the First Amendment, we will not tolerate illegal behavior demonstrated by some individuals in Tigard on Thursday night. Rioting, vandalism and property destruction are criminal acts and will be prosecuted in Washington County. We stand with the people and business owners of Tigard whose property was damaged in last night’s riot. 

As business owners continue to grapple with the economic impacts of COVID-19, they should not also be dealing with rioting, vandalism and property destruction.

The Tigard Police Department is now investigating any and all criminal acts associated with Thursday’s riot. The Washington County District Attorney’s Office will aggressively prosecute cases referred to our office by Tigard police.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 7, 2021, Tanner Griffin Mitchell pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a weapon in connection to a July 27, 2019 incident. Additionally, Mr. Mitchell also pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary stemming from a July 3, 2020 incident. Judge Oscar Garcia sentenced Mr. Mitchell to a total of 90 months in prison. Senior Deputy District Attorney Allison Brown prosecuted these cases against the defendant.

On July 27, 2019, Mr. Mitchell entered the backyard of a home in Beaverton, Oregon and confronted the homeowner who happened to be outside at the time. The homeowner didn’t recognize the defendant and later told police he had no right to be on his property. When the victim told the defendant to leave, Mr. Mitchell pulled a large, machete-style knife and held it above the victim’s head in a threatening manner. The victim then ran inside the home and immediately called police.

Deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded and located the defendant a short distance away. Mr. Mitchell claimed he was invited to the home which the victim denied. Deputies located the knife on the defendant and placed him under arrest.

While Mr. Mitchell was out of custody pending trial on the case above, he committed a second crime. On July 3, 2020, Mr. Mitchell, without permission, entered the apartment belonging to a woman known to him. He immediately pointed a handgun at the victim and demanded she hand over all her money. The defendant then took a small sum of cash and a cell phone before exiting the apartment.

Hillsboro police responded and located the defendant a few blocks away. He initially refused to comply with commands to surrender and at one point he reached into his waistband. Police were able to subdue him and place him under arrest. They then located a loaded handgun with a live round in the chamber.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the work of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Hillsboro Police Department on these cases. This office also wishes to acknowledge the bravery of both victims who immediately reported the defendant’s crimes to police.  The robbery victim also prepared a victim impact statement which SDDA Brown read aloud in the courtroom. 

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

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On December 16, 2020, the Oregon District Attorney's Association released this statement regarding Ballot Measure 11. The ODAA also released these survey results after polling 600 Oregonians to gather their thoughts on Ballot Measure 11. 

The following is a statement from Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton on this matter:

“As an elected District Attorney, I respect the will of the people, whether they express that will as jurors at a trial or voters at the ballot box.  Oregonians overwhelmingly supported Measure 11 in 1994 and again in 2000 and their support continues in 2020.  In the first two decades after the passage of Measure 11, violent crime in Oregon dropped by over half.  While I support responsible conversations to ensure our sentencing laws reflect our current needs and values, I believe that repealing Measure 11 minimum sentences for violent felonies will make Oregonians less safe and is contrary to the will of Oregon voters.” 

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On December 4, 2020, Judge Andrew Erwin sentenced Todd Alan Ott to 150 months in prison after the defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree sodomy, two counts of third-degree sodomy, two counts of second-degree unlawful sexual penetration, six counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of second-degree sexual abuse. Deputy District Attorney Rayney Meisel prosecuted the case against Mr. Ott.

In September of 2019, one of two known victims disclosed Mr. Ott had abused her on a regular basis over a span of six months, beginning when she was 13 years old. The child reported her family had been living with Mr. Ott in Forest Grove, Oregon and that her parents may have known about the abuse and allowed it to continue. A second victim also reported abuse beginning when she was 11 years old and living with the defendant. The defendant used violence, threats, and a fear of homelessness to keep the girls from reporting the abuse. 

An acquaintance of the defendant reported Mr. Ott had bragged about sexually abusing a young girl in 2015.

“Todd Ott preyed on these vulnerable children who needed help and a safe place to live. Instead, they were subjected to fear, abuse, and violence,” said Deputy District Attorney Meisel.

At a sentencing hearing, the victims told Mr. Ott that they would not allow his abuse to define them or prevent them from accomplishing their goals.    

The victims’ parents were also arrested and indicted on charges related to abuse and neglect.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to commend the victims for their bravery in reporting the abuse. This office also thanks the Oregon Department of Human Services, the Forest Grove Police Department and CARES Northwest for their work on this case.

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

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On December 1, 2020, Judge Andrew Erwin found Alexander Tynell Williams guilty of first-degree assault, third-degree assault and first-degree criminal mistreatment in a bench trial. On December 15, 2020, Judge Erwin sentenced the defendant to 90 months in prison. Deputy District Attorney Rayney Meisel prosecuted the case against Mr. Williams. 

Mr. Williams had been caring for the seven-month-old victim, along with the baby’s two toddler brothers, for approximately three hours on November 24, 2019.  When he returned the children to his mother, she noticed her toddlers had bruises on their faces and her infant had extensive and significant bruising to his face and torso. The baby’s four-year-old brother told his mother the defendant hit him and the baby. 

Medics were called and a full body inspection revealed severe injuries to the child’s genitals and abdomen. The injuries to the infant required immediate hospitalization. When confronted by family members, Mr. Williams denied any knowledge of what caused the injuries to the child, despite having been the last person to change the child’s diaper.

Hillsboro police and the Oregon Department of Human Services were notified and attempted contact with Mr. Williams. The defendant agreed to meet with investigators but failed to appear at the scheduled meeting. He eluded authorities for approximately five months. A grand jury indicted Mr. Williams on several charges on February 10, 2020 and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was ultimately taken into custody by the Portland Police Bureau after he was involved in a two-vehicle crash. Mr. Williams was identified as one of the drivers involved in the collision. After initially denying he was driving the vehicle, he later admitted that he was operating the vehicle at the time of the crash. 

“The child is doing well, but his recovery is on-going and he continues to be monitored by medical professionals. It remains unclear how these injuries and this trauma will affect him in the future,” DDA Meisel said of the victim’s current condition.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the work of the Hillsboro Police Department including Detective Tobby Cook. This office also thanks Randall’s Children’s Hospital, CARES Northwest, the Oregon Department of Human Services and the Portland Police Bureau for their work on this case.