HILLSBORO, Ore.- On July 16, 2021, a Washington County jury convicted Francisco-Javier Hernandez-Esteban, age 33, of 11 counts of first-degree sexual abuse. On September 9, 2021, Judge Ricardo Menchaca sentenced the defendant to 180 months in prison. Deputy District Attorney Rayney Meisel prosecuted the case against the defendant. 

In May of 2019, one of the victims in this case told a teacher that a man she knew was abusing her. The teacher alerted the Oregon Department of Human Services which launched an investigation in tandem with the Tualatin Police Department. Over the course of the investigation, police identified the defendant and learned about a second victim in Washington County, Oregon that he was also abusing. As the investigation unfolded, detectives spoke with other children known to the defendant and learned of an additional child who also reported abuse. Charges related to that victim are pending in Clackamas County, Oregon. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to commend the victims in this case for disclosing the abuse and for having the courage to participate in the defendant’s trial. This office also thanks the Oregon Department of Human Services, the Tualatin Police Department and CARES Northwest for their work on this case.