HILLSBORO, Ore- On December 20, 2024, a Washington County jury found Calvin Dae’juan Smith, age 32, guilty of two counts of promoting prostitution. Deputy District Attorney Christina Luedtke prosecuted this case before Judge Erik Buchér.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office joined partner agencies to conduct an undercover operation to target those facilitating human trafficking online. A detective posing as an interested party connected with a woman who agreed to meet him at a hotel in Beaverton. They exchanged several messages in which the detective agreed to pay her for sex. 

When the woman arrived at the hotel, officers detained her. She admitted she was there for sexual activity in exchange for money. A search of the woman’s phone revealed several messages between her and Mr. Smith. They identified a clear pattern of the defendant arranging and transporting the woman to meetings in exchange for cash. 

Unfortunately, human trafficking is occurring in Washington County. In 2018, our office helped launch the Washington County Human Trafficking Task Force to more effectively investigate and prosecute these cases. Our prosecutors work closely with law enforcement partners to hold offenders accountable and to support victims. 

January is also National Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month. We encourage community members to monitor our website and social media channels for more information throughout January. Additionally, if you suspect someone is being trafficked, call 9-1-1, your local law enforcement agency, or report it to the Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the work of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Beaverton Police Department, and the Tigard Police Department for their work on this case. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 6, 2025.

HILLSBORO, Ore- On December 18, 2024, a Washington County jury found Jimmy Travon Pierce, age 39, guilty of murder in the second degree with a firearm and attempted murder in the first degree with a firearm. Senior Deputy District Attorney John Gerhard and Deputy District Attorney Alyssa Camp prosecuted this case before Judge Oscar Garcia. 

In the early morning hours of May 19, 2017, officers were dispatched to the Xpose nightclub in Beaverton, Oregon after a report of a shooting. They found the murder victim in this case, Ramon Harris, suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and chest. He was rushed to the hospital but later died as a result of the shooting. Police also contacted Robert Nelson, the attempted murder victim, at a nearby apartment complex.  Mr. Nelson reported having to dive behind parked vehicles to avoid being shot. Those vehicles, a Chrysler 300 and a limo bus, both had bullet damage. Investigators recovered a total of eight spent shell casings at the Xpose scene.  The shooter, Mr. Pierce, fled the area before police arrived.

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage taken from inside Xpose and saw that Mr. Pierce was inside the club with his gang associates when the victims entered the club with a group of friends. Both groups of men had ties to various Portland criminal gangs and began arguing with each other. Mr. Pierce was seen exiting the club shortly before Mr. Harris and Mr. Nelson. The shooting then occurred in the parking lot.

Investigators were able to link the spent shell casings at the Xpose scene to a separate shooting in Southeast Portland that occurred six days earlier using the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). That shooting location allowed investigators to obtain cell phone data, pursuant to search warrants, linking Mr. Pierce to both shooting locations. Additionally, DNA evidence collected at the Xpose scene was later confirmed to match Mr. Pierce. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office acknowledges the work of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Beaverton Police Department, and the Oregon State Police Forensic Laboratory on this case. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled on January 2, 2025.  Until then, Mr. Pierce remains in the custody of the Washington County Jail without bail pending his sentencing.

HILLSBORO, Ore- On December 16, 2024, Brian James Henning, age 34, pleaded guilty to four charges related to the sexual abuse of three minors and was sentenced to 35 years in prison by Washington County Circuit Court Judge Oscar Garcia. Senior Deputy District Attorney Andy Pulver prosecuted this case.

The defendant began sexually abusing two minors in August of 2023. When their mother learned of the abuse, she confronted the defendant and he admitted to molesting the children. The mother contacted law enforcement immediately. Medical experts with CARES Northwest spoke with the children and they provided additional details, including the fact that the defendant had recorded one of the victims during an act of abuse.

Hillsboro police interviewed the defendant. He again admitted to abusing the children. Investigators secured and executed a search warrant for his apartment. They found additional evidence corroborating the accounts of the first and second child victims. Investigators also forensically analyzed the defendant’s phone and recovered evidence of the sexual abuse of the third child victim.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office acknowledges the work of the Hillsboro Police Department, CARES Northwest, and the Northwest Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory on this case. 

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

HILLSBORO, Ore- On December 5, 2024, Chris Joshua Farata, age 32, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual abuse in the first degree (two counts) and was sentenced to 75 months in prison by Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Erwin. Senior Deputy District Attorney Andy Pulver prosecuted this case. 

The defendant attempted to sexually abuse the underage victim on two separate occasions in Washington County beginning in April of 2024. The victim was asleep during these attempts and woke to the defendant trying to touch her private parts. She reported these actions to her mother who then confronted the defendant. He became irate, made threatening gestures towards the victim, and attempted to kick her out of the home. Law enforcement was not notified at the time of this disclosure.

A short time later, the victim told a friend about the abuse. The friend told a loved one who is a mandatory reporter and authorities were notified. Tigard police launched an investigation, which quickly resulted in the defendant’s indictment and arrest. Despite a lack of support from her mother, the victim remained cooperative and steadfast.

The defendant initially denied all allegations but eventually told investigators that he wanted to apologize to the victim and promised that it would not happen again.

Detectives believe additional abuse also occurred in Marion County, Oregon. Anyone with information about additional crimes perpetrated by the defendant should call law enforcement. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the victim for her bravery throughout this process. This office also thanks the Tigard Police Department for its work on this case. 

In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Erwin also ordered the defendant to serve five years of post-prison supervision, to register as a sex offender, to participate in child sex offender treatment, and to have no contact with the victim or any minors upon his release.

HILLSBORO, Ore- On December 6, 2024, a Washington County jury found Billy Eugene Brown, age 64, guilty of robbery in the first degree, felon in possession of a firearm, identity theft, and theft in the second degree. Senior Deputy District Attorney Andrew Freeman prosecuted this case before Judge Erik Buchér. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 20, 2024.

Mr. Brown has an extensive criminal history with more than 70 arrest cycles and multiple prison stints dating back to the early 1990s. On June 27, 2023, the defendant entered a Home Depot in Beaverton with two bags. He filled both bags with stolen merchandise and walked out of the store. Multiple loss prevention employees witnessed the theft and followed him from the store to recover the stolen items. A worker attempted to grab one of the bags from the defendant, but a handgun fell from the bag during the struggle. The employee disengaged and warned others of the weapon. The defendant then held the firearm as he warned employees to get away from him. He fled the area with the stolen merchandise. 

Beaverton police located the defendant nearby at a Target store and arrested him. He had loose ammunition in his pocket and a debit card stolen in a Portland car prowl in his wallet. A police K9 then located a loaded 9mm handgun along with a bag used in the robbery hidden under some bushes between the stores. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the work of Beaverton police in apprehending the suspect and securing the missing firearm. 

This office is dedicated to protecting area businesses from theft and crime. District Attorney Kevin Barton recently launched an anti-shoplifting campaign and has been distributing warning signs for companies to display. Visit our website to learn more about this effort and to request a free sign. 

HILLSBORO, Ore- On November 22, 2024, a Washington County jury found David Keith Hilton, age 39, guilty of sodomy in the first degree constituting domestic violence, sexual abuse in the first and third degree constituting domestic violence, and harassment constituting domestic violence. On November 25, 2024, Judge Brandon Thompson sentenced the defendant to 100 months in prison. Deputy District Attorney Katherine Miller, a member of the Domestic Violence Team, prosecuted this case.

The defendant engaged in sexual relations while the victim slept and without her consent. The victim called Hillsboro police on an unrelated matter and told them of these incidents. Investigators spoke with the defendant, and he admitted to initiating sexual contact while the victim was asleep. 

While in custody at the Washington County Jail, the defendant violated a no-contact order when he made several calls to the victim. In one call, he urged her to drop the charges against him. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to commend the victim in this case for the bravery shown throughout the legal process. This office also acknowledges the work of the Hillsboro Police Department. 

In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Thompson also ordered the defendant to register as a sex offender and to serve post-prison supervision upon his release.