HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 23, 2019, Washington County Judge Andrew R. Erwin sentenced Erik John Graeff to 18 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Recklessly Endangering Another Person. Senior Deputy District Attorney Bracken McKey prosecuted the case and asked the court to sentence Graeff to 60 months in prison, the presumptive sentence for felonies involving the use of a firearm.

The charges stem from a December 2017 incident in which Graeff, who was working as a lawyer at the time, fired six rounds from his handgun into the offices of a Beaverton law firm. At least one woman was inside the building at the time of the shooting. Investigators later determined that one of the bullets missed the woman’s head by less than a foot.

After searching cell phone records, investigators learned that Graeff drove from his home in Vancouver, Washington, to the law offices in Beaverton during the height of rush hour traffic. Investigators served a search warrant on Graeff’s home and vehicle in Vancouver and located a 9mm firearm used in the shooting. McKey argued that Graeff had ample time to reconsider his actions and recommended the five-year sentence because the crime was premeditated.

In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Erwin also ordered Graeff to undergo two years of post-prison supervision, participate in mental health and alcohol treatment programs and pay a $5,000 fine to the victims. He will also lose his right to own a firearm due to his felony conviction. Graeff is currently facing unlawful manufacturing of methamphetamine charges in Clark County, Washington.

Graeff has been transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections and will begin serving his sentence immediately.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 23, 2019, Washington County Judge Theodore Sims sentenced Tyrone Neil Murphy to 50 years in prison. This sentencing comes after a jury found Murphy guilty of four counts of First Degree Sodomy, two counts of First Degree Rape and two counts of Second Degree Sex Abuse last month. See our previous release on the case here.

Deputy District Attorney Rayney Meisel prosecuted the case against Murphy, which was investigated by the Hillsboro Police Department. During sentencing, Meisel asked the Judge to protect the community by leveling a lengthy prison sentence.

“He has demonstrated time and time again that, when left in society, he will continue to create victims,” Meisel argued.

Murphy was previously convicted of five sex abuse-related crimes in 2009. Meisel also argued that he failed to reform himself after those crimes.

“He was given sex offender treatment, and he re-offended. He was given probation, and he re-offended. When one victim escaped him, he moved on to the next. This is a person who has left a trail of victimization and this is your opportunity to ensure that trail has an end,” Meisel told the judge.

In a joint victim impact statement read during the sentencing, Murphy’s survivors told the court that this is not how they imagined living their lives. They spoke of milestones that were endured instead of celebrated, and the lifelong trauma they will contend with as a result of the physical, emotional, and sexual abuse Murphy inflicted. “His abusive pattern is a testament that he does not have the capacity to change. We hope nobody else has to experience him the way we did,” they told the court.

Murphy has been transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections and will begin serving his sentence immediately.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 18, 2019, Washington County Judge Oscar Garcia found Kenneth Lijah Duyck guilty of Sexual Assault of an Animal and Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle. Duyck was sentenced to 20 months in prison by Judge Garcia. Deputy District Attorney Sabina Khachaturova prosecuted the case against Duyck.

Detective Jim Berning began investigating the case after the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the owner of a horse stable located in Hillsboro. The owner suspected someone tampered with a horse in her barn and asked authorities to investigate.

Detective Berning spoke with the owner and nearby neighbors and quickly developed Duyck as a person of interest in the case. As the investigation continued, the owner’s daughter, who is a veterinarian, also began looking into the case. Based on evidence found in the stable, the daughter suspected the horse had been sexually assaulted. She conducted an examination of the horse in question and took samples of fluid found inside the animal.

Detective Berning eventually tracked down Duyck to an area Walmart where he was sleeping in a stolen vehicle. He admitted to entering the stable without the owner’s permission. He denied any wrongdoing at the time but did admit to touching the horse’s tail. Duyck also agreed to submit a DNA sample at that time.

Investigators eventually confirmed that the fluid found inside the horse matched the DNA sample provided by Duyck.

In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Garcia also ordered Duyck to undergo post-prison supervision for two years. He must also register as a sex offender and complete sex offender and mental health treatment plans.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 18, 2019, a Washington County jury found David Allan Detgen guilty of three counts of First Degree Sexual Abuse. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Chris Lewman and overseen by Judge Ricardo Menchaca. Detgen was sentenced to 200 months in prison for his crimes.

Hillsboro Police first began investigating a case of possible abuse in March of 2018, after the nine-year-old victim reported to school staff that she had been touched inappropriately by her mother’s live-in boyfriend whom she later identified as Detgen.

Detective Robert Rookhuÿzen of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office soon took over the investigation. In conjunction with the school counselor, the Oregon Department of Human Services and experts from CARES Northwest, investigators determined Detgen sexually assaulted the girl on several occasions.

Investigators also learned that Detgen was previously arrested by law enforcement in Florida for child abuse-related crimes, but those charges were eventually dropped. Investigators do not believe there are other victims out there.

Detgen will begin serving his sentence immediately.

Update: The Oregon Court of Appeals overturned Mr. Detgen’s conviction citing a non-unanimous jury decision. In February of 2021 Mr. Detgen was found not guilty in a retrial.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 18, 2018, Branden Michael Helms was convicted of Second Degree Sex Abuse by a Coach. He was sentenced to 13 months in prison. The case against Helms was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Chris Lewman and was overseen by Judge Janelle Wipper.

The investigation into Helms began in June of 2018 after the 16-year-old victim’s mother witnessed inappropriate contact between her daughter and Helms. Helms, who was 25-years-old, was working as an assistant track coach at Sunset High School at the time. The victim was a student athlete and was being coached by Helms.

Detective Madalyn Brown of the Beaverton Police Department soon took over the investigation. With permission from the victim and her parents, Detective Brown began scouring the victim’s cell phone for digital evidence. She found extensive text message conversations between the victim and Helms, many of which were sexual in nature. Detective Brown also determined that the victim and Helms met in person at least four times and participated in various degrees of sexual contact during those meetings.

Helms first denied any wrongdoing, until Detective Brown confronted him with video and photos he sent to the victim. In those videos, Helms’ face and genitals are clearly visible. Once Helms saw this evidence against him, he hung his head and admitted to engaging in the sexual contact with the child. He also admitted to sending the lewd photos and videos to the girl.

“We want the public to know that we take cases involving abuse by an adult in a position of trust very seriously,” Lewman said. “This man used his role as a coach to groom and take advantage of the victim. A 16-year-old is not able to consent to this type of behavior, our children must be protected from predators like Helms.”

Helms was relieved of his duties at Sunset High School. Investigators do not believe there are any other victims. He was sentenced to 13 months in prison with five years of post-prison supervision less time served. He was ordered to register as a sex offender and the court recommended no contact with minors, internet and computer restrictions, and sex offender treatment as conditions of post-prison supervision.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- Before a crowd of dozens of elected officials, city and county leaders, colleagues and community members, Kevin Barton was officially sworn-in as District Attorney of Washington County. 

Barton won his election in May of 2018 by a significant margin after a highly contested and much publicized race.  Following that election, former District Attorney Bob Hermann retired early and the Governor appointed Barton to finish the remainder of Hermann’s term.  The swearing-in ceremony today marks the official start of Barton’s elected term as Washington County District Attorney.

Prior to becoming District Attorney, Barton was a career prosecutor who worked his way up through the ranks of the DA’s Office to become Chief Deputy District Attorney.  As a prosecutor, Barton prosecuted many of Washington County’s most serious crimes and specialized in prosecuting crimes committed against children.  As District Attorney, Barton will continue his focus on public safety.

“My mission as District Attorney is to seek justice and protect our community,” said Barton.  “That means doing the right thing for the right reason and always being mindful how any decision affects community safety.” 

Barton is heavily invested in the Washington County community.  He was raised locally and lives in Washington County with his wife and children.  In addition to his duties as District Attorney, Barton serves on the governing board of CARES Northwest, a community-based medical program whose mission is to stop child abuse. He is also a member of the Attorney General’s Child Abuse Advisory Council, and Fight Crime: Invest in Kids. Additionally, Barton is a founding member of the Building Bridges Steering Committee, a coalition of public safety leaders and diverse civil society organizations who are committed to building hope and trust in our community.

“An important aspect of being safe is feeling safe,” said Barton. “The District Attorney must lead the effort to ensure that the criminal justice system works for all members of our community.”

To see the full ceremony, visit the official Facebook page for the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.