HILLSBORO, Ore- On January 9, 2025, a Washington County jury found Timothy Paul Fitzgerald, age 54, guilty of assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, two counts of sodomy in the first degree, three counts of sexual abuse in the first degree, kidnapping in the first degree, attempted rape in the first degree, and unlawful sexual penetration in the first degree. Deputy District Attorney Alyssa Camp prosecuted this case.

On October 13, 2023, Mr. Fitzgerald approached the victim, who is homeless and physically disabled, while she was sleeping on a sidewalk in downtown Beaverton. Mr. Fitzgerald offered the victim money, which she declined. He then struck the victim and began kicking the victim in the face with his steel-toed boots. This caused a complex fracture of her nasal and orbital bones. Then, in a more secluded area nearby, Mr. Fitzgerald physically and sexually assaulted her for approximately 40 minutes. The victim testified that she could not escape because she was confined to a wheelchair and could not move fast enough to get away from him. A majority of the crime was captured on surveillance video from a nearby business.

The attack was interrupted by a street sweeper who drove into the parking lot where the assault was occurring. Mr. Fitzgerald fled the scene but was located by police at the Beaverton Transit Center approximately ten minutes later. Mr. Fitzgerald told responding officers that he did not remember anything that occurred after he offered the victim money. He allowed investigators to swab his body for DNA. Those samples showed the victim’s DNA present on the defendant’s body.

The defendant was also indicted on a charge of bias crime in the first degree. During the trial, the judge removed that count from jury consideration and issued a judgment of acquittal, finding that no reasonable jury could conclude that Mr. Fitzgerald targeted the victim because of her disability.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office acknowledges the bravery of the victim in participating in the legal process. This office also thanks the Beaverton Police Department and the Oregon State Police Forensic Laboratory for their work on this case.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 17, 2025. The defendant will remain in custody pending sentencing.