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.