HILLSBORO, Ore- On April 26, 2024, a Washington County jury found Enrique Tapia-Chavez, age 34, guilty of Murder in the Second Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Judge Janelle Wipper also found the defendant guilty of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. On May 2, 2024, the defendant was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years for the second-degree murder conviction and an additional 60 months in prison for the firearm. Those sentences will be served consecutively. Senior Deputy District Attorney Andrew Freeman and Deputy District Attorney Jason Ring prosecuted the case against the defendant. 

In the early morning hours of July 11, 2023, the defendant drove his girlfriend’s car into a strip mall parking lot near SE 10th Avenue and SE Walnut Street in Hillsboro, Oregon. As he arrived, he saw the victim, Juan Moncivais, walking along Walnut Street and into the lot. After a minute of watching the victim, the defendant circled the lot and parked near him. Surveillance cameras captured the scene as the defendant immediately got out of the vehicle and started firing with a 9mm handgun. Though Mr. Moncivais turned and ran for his life, the defendant gave chase and shot him in the back multiple times. After the victim fell to the pavement the defendant shot him in the head a final time at close range before fleeing the scene. 

Hillsboro police used that surveillance footage to identify the vehicle and the defendant as a potential suspect. Through many hours of work and the assistance of a large law enforcement team, investigators established corroborating details that confirmed the defendant was the killer, including cell phone location data that placed him at the murder scene.  

In imposing consecutive sentences, Judge Wipper cited the defendant’s prior failures on supervision, his prior firearm conviction, and the brazen public nature of this murder. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the investigative work of the Hillsboro Police Department on this case, particularly co-lead detectives Anthony Johnson and Devin Rigo and the Law Enforcement Analyst Unit.

Mr. Tapia-Chavez will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence. 

HILLSBORO, Ore- Washington County, the safest urban county in Oregon, is seeking applicants for the position of Deputy District Attorney I, II, III, or IV.  These position(s) will be in our misdemeanor or felony criminal units, depending on experience. Our DDAs are responsible for all aspects of case prosecution including charging decisions, case management, negotiations, and trials. 

The mission of the Washington County DA’s Office is to seek justice and protect our community.  To accomplish that mission, we do the following:

• We aggressively prosecute dangerous offenders and those who harm the quality of life,
• We hold criminals accountable who commit all levels of crime,
• We look for ways to address root causes of crime through specialty courts and treatment programs,
• We speak multiple languages,
• We serve all members of our community regardless of race, gender, socio-economic status, orientation, or nationality, and
• We protect the vulnerable, including children, sexual assault victims, and the elderly.

In addition to safe neighborhoods and top-rated schools, Washington County is home to companies like Nike, Intel, and Columbia Sportswear. We stretch from the western boundary of Portland to the coast range, and include the cities of Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood, and Forest Grove. We are close enough to Portland to feel urban, but distant enough – both in proximity and philosophy – to have our own unique identity.  

We offer top-tier prosecutor salaries, a vibrant and collaborative work environment, and generous benefits (including reserved parking). Annual cost-of-living pay increases are routine and merit-based salary increases are common.  Our DDA I to IV salary range is currently $102,750 to $203,026. Salary offers for these positions will depend on experience.

Practicing attorneys and persons sitting for the July 2024 Bar exam are welcome to apply.

The list of requested application materials is available on our website, https://www.washingtoncountyda.org/attorneys

If interested, please contact Chief Deputy DA Jeff Lesowski: Jeff_lesowski@washingtoncountyor.gov

HILLSBORO, Ore- On April 18, 2024, Cristian Michael Abarca was sentenced to 150 months in prison under Measure 11 sentencing guidelines after he was convicted of two counts of Robbery in the First Degree. Senior Deputy District Attorney Andrew Freeman prosecuted this case.

On August 12, 2022, two brothers parked in front of a convenience store near SE 10th Ave and SE Baseline. When the driver got out to go inside, Mr. Abarca approached and got into the driver’s seat with a large fixed-blade knife. He then threatened the brother in the passenger seat, who fled the vehicle. The defendant drove off in the car which contained the victims’ paychecks and a cell phone. Thankfully, these were recovered when the brothers spotted their car abandoned nearby. At the time the robber’s identity was unknown. 

On September 2, 2022, the defendant approached a man after he got off the bus with his groceries near that same convenience store. The defendant pulled a large, fixed-blade knife out of his sock and threatened to stab the victim if he didn’t hand over his phone and wallet. The victim gave the defendant his wallet and all the groceries he had just purchased. The defendant left the area on foot while the victim ran to the Hillsboro police station and reported the robbery. Police immediately began searching the area and arrested the defendant nearby. He had the victim’s wallet along with two fixed-blade knives, one in his sock and one in his waistband. Officers were able to return the groceries to the victim after a K9 found them in a vacant lot nearby. 

Investigators later linked DNA evidence found on the steering wheel from the stolen car incident to the defendant and determined he had committed both robberies. While in detention at the Washington County Jail, the defendant assaulted two inmates in separate, unprovoked incidents. These actions, together with other factors including the defendant’s prior failure on domestic violence probation, were all cited by Judge Ricardo Menchaca when imposing the lengthy sentence. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the work of the Hillsboro Police Department in locating and arresting the defendant. Mr. Abarca will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence. 

HILLSBORO, Ore- On April 23, 2024, a Washington County jury found Cesar Yovanni Alvarez-Alcazar, age 20, guilty of Murder in the Second Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The defendant pled no contest to Unlawful Possession of a Firearm prior to the trial. Judge Theodore Sims then sentenced the defendant to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. Senior Deputy District Attorney John Gerhard and Deputy District Attorney Dustin Staten prosecuted this case. 

On February 6, 2022, the defendant attended a house party in Cornelius, Oregon. He was heavily intoxicated and got into a verbal argument with multiple partygoers including the victim, Jose Angel Rodriguez-Sanchez, age 20 at the time. The defendant shot the victim several times and also fired a shot at another partygoer. The victim died from his injuries, and the defendant fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. 

Investigators quickly identified the defendant as their suspect. He was arrested by officers from the Salem Police Department during a traffic stop seven months later. Police found a loaded handgun hidden under the defendant’s driver’s seat along with 400 rounds of ammunition and body armor. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the investigative work on this case by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the deputies serving the City of Cornelius. This office also thanks the Salem Police Department for their work in apprehending the defendant. 

Mr. Alvarez-Alcazar will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence. 

HILLSBORO, Ore- On April 11, 2024, Benjamin Lance Bowers, age 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, and Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. He was sentenced to 60 months in prison. Deputy District Attorney Matt Wise prosecuted this case. 

The defendant was a licensed massage therapist when he sexually assaulted two female patients and an 11-year-old girl in separate incidents. The first victim was assaulted while receiving a massage from Mr. Bowers at a Hillsboro business in 2021. The second incident occurred in 2022 when the defendant was working at a different massage studio in Beaverton. The child, who was known to the defendant, was assaulted around this time as well.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the work of Hillsboro and Beaverton police on these cases and acknowledges the bravery shown throughout this process by the victims. 

In addition to his prison sentence, Mr. Bowers was ordered to register as a sex offender and to undergo treatment. He is also barred from practicing as a licensed massage therapist in the future. 

HILLSBORO, Ore- On April 12, 2024, Brett Church Michie, age 47, pleaded guilty to three counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Sodomy in the First Degree, and Using a Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct. He was then sentenced to 300 months in prison under Jessica’s Law. Deputy District Attorney Matt Wise prosecuted the case against the defendant. 

In January of 2023, a social media company reported the defendant was downloading and sharing Child Sexual Abuse Materials over the internet. Members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program contacted the Beaverton Police Department to alert them to the defendant’s actions. Investigators confronted the defendant who admitted to trading Child Sexual Abuse Materials with others on the internet. He consented to a search of his phone which uncovered hundreds of disturbing images involving the abuse of children. Investigators also found images of the defendant sexually abusing a young child. The defendant shared those materials with others on the internet. The defendant was arrested and made a failed attempt to kill himself while in custody. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the investigative work of the Beaverton Police Department on this case. 

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