HILLSBORO, Ore.- April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. During this month and throughout the year, the Washington County Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team is dedicated to supporting professionals in our community in their work to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect. In recognition of this important month, please join our Child Abuse MDT members on Monday April 8th, 2019 at 1:30 PM on the east side steps of the Washington County Courthouse (145 NE 2nd Avenue, Hillsboro).

This special event will include the planting of a Pinwheels for Prevention garden, the Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation and remarks from local leaders to address the importance of child abuse prevention work in our community. Scheduled speakers include District Attorney Kevin Barton, Sheriff Pat Garrett and the Prevention Program Coordinator for CARES Northwest, Sally Blackwood.

The pinwheels planted in our community this April symbolize the happy and healthy childhood all children deserve, and the public and all Washington County employees are welcome to attend and help “plant” the garden. Participants are encouraged to wear blue to this event to make a visible statement about our commitment to ending child abuse in Washington County.

Find out more about how you can play a part and help create positive change for children in our community: https://preventchildabuseoregon.org/

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On March 29, 2019, Felipe Del Cid pleaded guilty to three counts of First-Degree Sex Abuse and one count of First-Degree Attempted Sodomy. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison by Washington County Judge Oscar Garcia. Deputy District Attorney Jason Weiner prosecuted the case against Del Cid.

Detective Cheryl Crecelius of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office first began investigating Del Cid in March of 2018.

Detective Crecelius spoke with the boy who described the years of abuse that Del Cid subjected him to. Investigators determined Del Cid, who was known to the boy’s family, first sexually assaulted the child around 2007 when he was just seven-years-old. The abuse continued over the next several years with unwanted touching and inappropriate behavior.

In 2016, the victim began telling some of his friends about the abuse. Fearful Del Cid could be harming other children, the victim wanted to protect others and eventually told his mother, prompting the investigation.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the bravery the victim showed in coming forward.

“This young man showed incredible courage throughout this entire process,” Deputy District Attorney Jason Weiner said of the victim. “These cases are very difficult, and this survivor displayed a great deal of perseverance in seeing this case through.”

In addition to our partners at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, we would also like to acknowledge the work of CARES Northwest on this case.

As part of the plea agreement, Del Cid will also have to register as a sex offender for life. He has been transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to serve his sentence.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On March 15, 2019, Washington County Judge Theodore Sims sentenced Samuel de Jesus Santos-Vasquez to 225 months in prison. In January of 2019, Santos-Vasquez was convicted of two counts of First-Degree Sex Abuse, First-Degree Sodomy and Second-Degree Unlawful Sexual Penetration. Deputy District Attorney Chris Lewman prosecuted the case against Santos-Vasquez.

On Thanksgiving weekend of 2018, Santos-Vasquez attended a party at a family member’s home. He snuck away from the party and entered the room of a 11-year-old girl who was sleeping at the time. He then began to molest her. He left the room when family members called for him but returned back two times throughout the night. A family member spotted Santos-Vasquez leaving the victim’s room. The victim made a disclosure of abuse to a school counselor the next week, prompting the initial investigation.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation and determined the abuse had been ongoing for the past two years. The victim was interviewed by experts at CARES Northwest and underwent an examination at Randall Children’s Hospital. Evidence and testimony collected during those visits were vital in Santos-Vasquez’s conviction. We’d also like to acknowledge the work of Washington County Sheriff’s Office Detective Charles Anderson on this case.

In addition to his sentence, Santos-Vasquez will also undergo 10 years of post-prison supervision. He has been transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On March 19, 2019, Washington County Judge Janelle Wipper sentenced Leo Gabonia to 375 months in prison. On March 14, 2019, Gabonia was convicted of eight sex abuse-related charges including First-Degree Sodomy, First-Degree Sexual Penetration and First-Degree Sex Abuse. The case against Gabonia was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Chris Lewman.

Forest Grove Police first began investigating Gabonia in September of 2017 after the then nine-year-old victim made disclosures of abuse to a family member. That family member then contacted police who began the investigation.

Gabonia was known to the family and used that connection to gain access to the victim. Police learned the abuse began two years prior to the disclosure with inappropriate touching and kissing and quickly escalated from there. Based on victim accounts and the expertise from staff at Randall Children’s Hospital and CARES Northwest, police gathered enough evidence to move forward with charges against Gabonia.

Gabonia became very upset after the verdict was issued. He jumped on a table in the courtroom and declared he had nothing to live for. He then attempted to jump from a 4th story window but was taken into custody by Washington County sheriff’s deputies.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the work of Forest Grove Police Detective Charles McCutcheon for his work on this case.

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

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On March 21, 2019, Marcus Dale Jolley pleaded guilty to three counts of Second-Degree Sexual Abuse and was sentenced to two years in prison by Washington County Judge Charles Bailey. District Attorney Kevin Barton prosecuted the case against Jolley.

Tigard Police began investigating Jolley in May of 2017 after a female student at Tigard High School reported to school staff that Jolley had inappropriately touched her. Jolley served as a teacher at the high school but left to take a position at Sherwood Middle School. That student decided to come forward after she heard Jolley was planning a possible return to Tigard High School. She indicated she was afraid for the safety of other female students and came forward to protect others.

Over the course of their investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant to gain access to Tigard High School internal records and uncovered evidence of prior concerning incidents involving Jolley and students. In those cases, previous students accused Jolley of inappropriate touching and kissing dating back to 2006. None of those prior incidents were reported to law enforcement or the Oregon Department of Human Services.

A second victim was also identified during the investigation. It was discovered she had an ongoing sexual relationship with Jolley while he was a teacher and she was a student. This abuse occurred in 2005 but was never reported to authorities.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the hard work of the Tigard Police on this challenging case. These crimes would not have been discovered had it not been for the perseverance and dedication of a Tigard school resource officer.

In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Bailey ordered Jolley to register as a sex offender and to have no contact with his victims. He is also ordered to have no contact with schools or minors and will undergo five years of post-prison supervision once he is released.

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

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On March 14, 2019, Reachana Chan was sentenced to 20 years in prison by Judge Oscar Garcia. Chan pleaded guilty to Using a Child in a Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct, two counts of Second-Degree Rape, Second-Degree Sexual Abuse and Third-Degree Sexual Abuse. The convictions represent the sex abuse of five victims between 12-16 years old. The defendant was a stranger to all the victims and targeted the young girls on social media. Deputy District Attorney Allison Brown prosecuted the case against Chan.

Beaverton Police Detective Maggie Brown began investigating the defendant in late 2017. The initial report involved two victims who were sexually assaulted by the defendant when they were 16. The crimes were similar in that the defendant contacted the children online, met them in person and engaged in unwanted sexual conduct. The defendant was arrested on these charges in March of 2018. 

After the defendant’s arrest, police learned of three additional victims. All three were ages 12-13 when they met Chan through social media. While each case is different, the pattern of abuse is the same. Chan would contact the victims and lie about his age. He would then take compromising photos and videos of the girls and later use that material to blackmail them into sexual relations.

In one case, Chan even used a knife to threaten a victim and forced her to perform sexual acts on him. He let her go, but then repeated the pattern and threatened to send out photos he had taken of her. He then forced her to meet him again and repeated the attack.

In addition to his prison sentence, the defendant cannot have contact with minors and is barred from using the internet, a computer, or smart phones.  He is also required to register as a sex offender. 

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