David James Kozak Sentenced to 245 Months in Prison in Domestic Violence, Arson Case

HILLSBORO, Ore- On January 23, 2025, a Washington County jury found David James Kozak guilty of attempted murder in the second degree constituting domestic violence, assault in the first degree constituting domestic violence, arson in the first degree (three counts), unlawful use of a weapon, criminal mischief in the first degree (three counts), and animal abuse in the first degree (three counts). On April 24, 2025, Judge Theodore Sims sentenced the defendant to 245 months in prison and ordered him to pay more than $719,000 in restitution. Deputy District Attorneys Mark Richman and Mackenna Krohn prosecuted this case.

The victim and defendant were dating at the time and living together at an apartment in the Raleigh Hills area. On February 22, 2023, the two got into an argument. The defendant attacked the victim with a butcher knife and stabbed her multiple times in the neck, head, and shoulder. She was able to escape, and she fled to a neighbor’s apartment, where she reported that the defendant stabbed her. She then passed out from her wounds. The neighbors called 911, and deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded. The victim was in and out of consciousness as she was rushed to the hospital. She told first responders the defendant stabbed her and tried to light the apartment on fire.

Responding deputies saw the fire and attempted to extinguish it. The fire reignited and eventually destroyed the apartment building. Eight residents were displaced, and three pet cats were killed. Deputies found two lighters on the defendant when he was arrested.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the work of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in apprehending the defendant and investigating the case. This office also thanks Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue for their work.

In addition to his prison sentence, the Court also ordered the defendant to have no contact with the victims in this case, to serve three years of post-prison supervision upon his release, and barred him from owning any pets for a period of five years.