HILLSBORO, Ore.- A federal complaint has been filed against a Washington County man for his threats to commit a school shooting.

Braeden Richard Riess, age 26, will be charged with the federal crime of Interstate Communication of a Threat.

According to court documents, in May of 2022, a federal agency alerted Sherwood police after it received threats from Mr. Riess via its website threatening to shoot children at a particular Sherwood elementary school before killing himself. Mr. Riess was arrested and remains in custody. Parents from the affected school were notified of the incident.

The case was referred to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.  On May 17, 2022, the defendant was arraigned on six counts of Disorderly Conduct in the First Degree, the maximum available charge under Oregon law. However, because Oregon law does not provide sufficient means to address threats of mass violence, this office reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office to refer the case for federal prosecution.

Oregon law does not provide adequate means to address threats of mass violence to public places such as schools or places of worship. District Attorney Kevin Barton is actively working with multiple state legislators to remedy the issue. In 2020, DA Barton collaborated with lawmakers to craft HB 4145 which sought to address this gap in Oregon law.  However, despite broad support, that bill did not pass. This office continues to advocate for the legislature to address the problem and to ensure we have the public safety tools needed to keep our communities safe.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On June 8, 2022, a Washington County jury found Jakob Paul Azevedo guilty of second-degree manslaughter and reckless driving. The defendant also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of intoxicants. On August 26, 2022, Judge Brandon Thompson sentenced the defendant to 75 months in prison and ordered his driver's license revoked for life. Senior Deputy District Attorney Andrew Freeman prosecuted the case against Mr. Azevedo. 

On November 11, 2019, at about 7:30 p. m., the defendant was driving a Ford F-350 south on Roy Rodgers Road approaching Sherwood, Oregon. As he crossed the bridge over the Tualatin River, Mr. Azevedo veered into the oncoming lane and collided head-on with a small BMW convertible driven by Mr. Pyanin Sin. The BMW suffered catastrophic damage and spun into the jersey barrier before coming to rest in the center of the roadway. The truck flipped on its side and slid several feet down the road before coming to rest. The defendant suffered minor injuries and a deputy was able to assist him out of his truck. First responders extracted Mr. Sin from his crushed vehicle so he could be transported to Oregon Health & Science University by LifeFlight, but he succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.

The defendant repeatedly denied consuming alcohol that night to both police and medical providers. However, the crash scattered beer cans from the truck into the roadway, and medical testing later revealed Mr. Azevedo’s BAC to be .17% almost two hours after impact. After the trial jury was picked, the defendant chose to plead guilty to the crime of DUII shortly before opening statements began. The evidence at trial then proved him guilty of the remaining counts.  

Initial reports after the crash incorrectly placed the blame on the victim. Only after an extensive follow-up investigation was the State able to prove that Mr. Azevedo was at fault and that he killed Mr. Sin through his reckless and intoxicated driving. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to commend the Sin family for the grace and patience they showed through this long process. This office also acknowledges the hard work of the members of the Crash Analysis and Reconstruction Team (CART) who conducted an extensive follow-up investigation which was instrumental in holding the defendant accountable for the death of Mr. Sin.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On June 6, 2022, Washington County Circuit Court Judge Oscar Garcia sentenced Darby Jay Martin, age 28, to 15 years in prison. This sentence comes after the defendant previously pleaded guilty to first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree sexual abuse, using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct, and two counts of first-degree unlawful delivery of a schedule I controlled substance to a minor. Deputy District Attorney Sara Loebner prosecuted the case against the defendant. 

In June of 2021, a teenage victim contacted the Washington County Sheriff's Office. She told investigators that the defendant took her and her cousin, who was also a minor at the time, to his home. He then gave both victims LSD before sexually assaulting one of the teens.

While speaking with detectives, the reporting victim told officers about a third teenager who was sexually involved with the defendant. This victim was interviewed by experts at the Amani Center. She told them Mr. Martin also provided her with drugs before he sexually assaulted her. This third victim told officers of additional teenagers who were involved with the defendant. St. Helens police investigated. They identified two additional teenagers who reported similar behavior by Mr. Martin. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to commend the initial victim for reporting this abuse and acknowledges the additional victims who aided in this case. This office also thanks the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, including Detective Thomas Bowler, and St. Helens police for their work. 

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

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On May 18, 2022, a Washington County jury found Louis Howard Johnson, age 58, guilty of six counts of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and seven counts of first-degree sexual abuse. On July 6, 2022, Judge Ricardo Menchaca sentenced the defendant to 300 months in prison. Deputy District Attorney Chris Lewman prosecuted the case.

The defendant worked as a manager at the Tigarden Apartments in Tigard, Oregon from 1997 to the late 2000s. During that time, he and his wife babysat several children, including the three victims in this case. During a span of about seven years, he repeatedly sexually abused the three young children. 

The abuse did not come to light until May of 2019. One of the victims contacted Tigard police to report what she endured. Detective David Hockin worked with the victims and other law enforcement agencies to positively identify the defendant. Police confronted him with the allegations. He confirmed he did babysit the victims but denied any wrongdoing. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to commend the victims for reporting this abuse. This office also acknowledges the work of Tigard police including Detective Hockin and Officer April Keller.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 6, 2022. The defendant will remain in custody until that time. 

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On May 18, 2022, Alejandro Negrete, age 25, pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual abuse, first-degree attempted sodomy, and two counts of public indecency. He was then sentenced to 103 months in prison by Washington County Circuit Court Judge Chris Colburn. Deputy District Attorney Rayney Meisel prosecuted the case for the State.

The defendant was working as a delivery driver on July 16, 2021, when he encountered a 9-year-old girl playing outside her home. Mr. Negrete approached the child and asked her if she wanted candy. When she declined the offer the defendant told the girl to sit down on her front steps and close her eyes so he could give her something better. She did so. When the child opened her eyes, the defendant was standing in front of her exposing himself. The victim screamed and ran away, as did Mr. Negrete. She reported the abuse to her father who immediately called 9-1-1.

Washington County Sheriff’s deputies responded and located the defendant nearby. He admitted to his actions and told investigators that the girl was not his first sexual abuse victim.

Based on this information, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release in the hopes other victims might come forward. Shortly after, a second family contacted investigators and reported that Mr. Negrete exposed himself to their 9-year-old daughter while working as a delivery driver. A third 9-year-old girl also reported the defendant touched her inappropriately as well. After detectives located corroborating videos and work schedules, Mr. Negrete admitted to his involvement in these additional cases.

“Cases like this are terrifying. The defendant used his position of public trust to gain access to children,” said DDA Meisel. “His behavior was escalating, and it appears he became emboldened when he wasn’t caught right away. We are so grateful that these young girls reported him, and that law enforcement acted quickly to get this man out of our community.”

In court, the defendant acknowledged his guilt. “I want to apologize to the victims and their families for my crimes and the harm I’ve caused,” Mr. Negrete said at his sentencing hearing. He also told the court he hoped to use the time in prison to better himself.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to commend these victims for having the courage to report this abuse. This office also thanks Detective Cheryl Crecelius and all the investigators on this case, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and CARES Northwest for their work.

In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Colburn also ordered the defendant to register as a sex offender and undergo post-prison supervision upon his release. Mr. Negrete will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence. 

Investigators believe there may additional victims who haven’t come forward. If you have any information, please contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On May 12, 2022, a Washington County jury found Eddie Tamaras Silas guilty of second-degree attempted murder, second-degree assault, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of tampering with a witness. On May 19, 2022, Judge Eric Butterfield sentenced the defendant to 10 years in prison. Deputy District Attorney Matt Wise prosecuted the case against.

On July 3, 2021, the defendant and his girlfriend hosted a party at her home located in Aloha, Oregon. After the party ended, the defendant confronted his girlfriend and became very angry with her. He physically assaulted her while screaming at the top of his lungs. The girlfriend’s teenage daughter was in the home at the time of the assault.

The defendant then took the woman’s cell phone without her permission and began going through it. At one point he called her cousin. An argument ensued over the phone and the defendant told the cousin to come to the house before he threatened to kill him.

About 20 minutes later, the girlfriend’s cousin arrived at the house and knocked on the front door. Her daughter answered the door. The cousin took one step inside before the defendant opened fire on him with a handgun. The cousin was shot once with hollow point ammunition. He was severely wounded but made a full recovery. The events were captured on a home surveillance camera.

Deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene. Investigators matched bullets found in the victim to the defendant’s weapon. While in custody at the Washington County Jail, the defendant also attempted to influence his girlfriend’s testimony to affect the outcome of the trial.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the work of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Detective Mark Povolny. This office also thanks Oregon State Police for their assistance.