HILLSBORO, Ore.- On February 26, 2021, a jury convicted Abelino Garcia-Vasquez, age 33, of two counts of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, two counts of second-degree unlawful sexual penetration and seven counts of first-degree sexual abuse. Senior Deputy District Attorney Andy Pulver prosecuted the case against the defendant before Judge Eric Butterfield.

This case involves the sexual abuse of two children known to the defendant. The victims were nine and seven-years-old when the defendant began abusing them. One of the victims disclosed the abuse to her friends but none of them reported the disclosures to law enforcement, the Oregon Department of Human Services, or a responsible adult. Eventually, the victim also disclosed the abuse to a mandatory reporter—a school counselor—who alerted the authorities.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office conducted an investigation. Unfortunately, members of the victim’s family did not take the allegations seriously and continued to support Mr. Garcia-Vasquez during that time.

In 2019, while the investigation was pending, a family member found the second victim’s personal journal in which she detailed the abuse perpetuated by Mr. Garcia-Vasquez. That family member then reported her findings to the Oregon Department of Human Services and law enforcement.

Both of the victims were interviewed by experts at CARES Northwest where they gave details regarding the abuse.

Detectives with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office made various attempts to interview the defendant. During a phone call with detectives, the defendant denied any wrongdoing before claiming he was traveling to Mexico to visit a sick family member. He agreed to meet with detectives for an interview but ultimately fled the state. After receiving information that Mr. Garcia-Vasquez had returned to the area, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Apprehension Team effectuated his arrest. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the bravery of these two victims throughout this trying process. This office also thanks the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, CARES Northwest and the Oregon Department of Human Services for their work on this case.

A sentencing hearing for the defendant is scheduled for March 26, 2021. Mr. Garcia-Vasquez will remain in custody until that time.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On February 10, 2021, Judge Andrew Erwin found 44-year-old Cesar Lujano-Rosales guilty of two counts of first-degree sodomy and one count of first-degree sexual abuse in a bench trial. On April 7, 2021, Judge Andrew Erwin sentenced the defendant to 100 months in prison. In addition to his prison sentence, Mr. Lujano-Rosales was also ordered to undergo 20 years of post-prison supervision and to register as a sex offender. Deputy District Attorney Marie Atwood prosecuted the case against the defendant.

In June of 2020, neighbors of the then 17-year-old victim became concerned when they spotted a person climbing out of the victim’s bedroom window. Witnesses reported the person was dressed as a woman in a skirt and wig but was clearly a man. They alerted the victim’s mother who notified law enforcement.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office immediately launched an investigation. They learned the victim was developmentally disabled. The victim told his mother that the man initially approached him outside his apartment complex and struck up a friendship. The defendant eventually began sending the victim sexually explicit messages and asked the victim for money. Mr. Lujano-Rosales arranged a meeting with the victim leading to the sexual abuse.

Investigators were able to identify the defendant, age 43 at the time, as a person of interest in the case. When they confronted him at his apartment, they found the skirt and wig he used in the attack. The defendant initially denied having sexual contact with the victim but eventually admitted to the sexual contact.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the work of Deputy Meg Just and Sergeant Robert Rookhuyzen of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office on this case. CARES Northwest also aided in this investigation, as did personnel from the Beaverton School District.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton recently joined Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth in voicing his support for Measure 11, Oregon’s violent crime mandatory minimum sentencing law.

The pair submitted an opinion piece to The Oregonian in which they urge lawmakers not to make drastic changes to the law. Measure 11 was overwhelmingly passed by voters in 1994 and reaffirmed by voters once again in 2000 with a 73% approval rate.

Measure 11 provides reasonable and uniform minimum prison sentences for Oregon’s most violent crimes. It is a law proposed by the people – not prosecutors or politicians – in response to a justice system in need of reform because it failed to protect crime victims and the public.

The Oregon District Attorney's Association, which represents elected district attorneys across Oregon, also reaffirmed its support for Measure 11. ODAA issued this press release and provided this informational packet to support its arguments. 

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On February 9, 2021, Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett conducted a swearing-in ceremony for Detective Kevin Winfield. Detective Winfield has more than 20 years of investigative experience and will be assigned to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office to re-examine violent crime cold cases that involve identified DNA associated with a possible suspect. Detective Winfield’s position is supported by a federal grant. The grant, “Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA,” is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.

In 2020, the Washington County District Attorney’s Office was awarded $470,000 in grant funding to investigate violent crime cold cases. A cold case is defined as a case three or more years old that is not under active investigation. After an in-depth review, multiple cases were identified as suitable for further investigation under this grant. These cases date back to 1968 and several of them contain DNA evidence. Additionally, there are potentially hundreds of unsolved sexual assault cases over the decades that also contain DNA evidence.

In addition to Detective Winfield’s position, this grant also allows for the hiring of a forensic consultant. These two new positions will work with a prosecutor and victim advocate to form a Violent Crime Cold Case Multidisciplinary Team (MDT).  The MDT will work together to solve and prosecute violent crime cold cases in Washington County and in partnership with existing resources, including the Washington County Major Crimes Team.

“We are excited to welcome Detective Winfield as our first dedicated cold case detective. While these cases may be labeled ‘cold cases,’ to the victims and their families they are just as real and important today as they were when the crime occurred many years ago. This new position is an effort to ensuring these cases remain a top priority,” said Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton.

“I am grateful for the DA’s Office to acquire grant funding to make this possible. The hope to resolve cases that include lives lost due to homicidal violence elevates the voices of our community’s victims and provides a measure of hope for their family and friends. My sincere thanks to Detective Winfield as well for his devotion to these important cases,” added Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett.

Cold Case Spotlight

The 2001 murder of Loni Okaruru, a transgender woman, remains one of the cold cases identified for renewed investigation under this grant funding. Ms. Okaruru was found murdered in Hillsboro, Oregon. This horrifying crime shook the community then and continues to cause pain today. We've included a news clipping regarding this case from 2001.

Submit Your Tips

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office has established a website with more information on this effort. Anyone with information pertaining to a violent crime cold case should call local law enforcement. Tips can also be submitted directly to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office by calling 503-846-8671.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 29, 2021, Allen Grady Williams, age 48, pleaded guilty to second-degree online sexual corruption of a child, seven counts of luring a minor and second-degree attempted sexual abuse. Judge Eric Butterfield then sentenced Mr. Williams to four years in prison. Deputy District Attorney Matt Wise prosecuted the case against the defendant.

In 2018, the defendant, already a convicted sex offender, began messaging an undercover Washington County Sheriff’s Office detective whom he thought was a 15-year-old girl. Mr. Williams sent dozens of messages to the decoy account over a nearly two-year period. These messages were sexually explicit in nature. Law enforcement running this account repeatedly reminded Mr. Williams that the decoy was a minor, but the defendant continued to send graphic photos and videos of himself.

The defendant agreed to meet with the decoy in-person several times over the course of their conversations. In September of 2020, he followed through on this and drove to a park in Washington County, Oregon to meet with the decoy. Washington County Sheriff’s deputies immediately arrested the defendant. They found condoms, sex toys and pornographic magazines in his car. The defendant admitted he came to the park to meet with a minor but claimed he wasn’t going to engage in sexual activity with her.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the work of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office as well as Detective Mark Povolny and Deputy Shannon Wilde.

In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Butterfield also ordered the defendant to register once again as a sex offender for these new convictions. Judge Butterfield also ordered Mr. Williams to complete two years of post-prison supervision upon his release. The defendant will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to serve his sentence.

HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 28, 2021, Heraclio Madrigal-Carrillo pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted sexual penetration and two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. Judge Charles Bailey then sentenced the defendant to 20 years in prison. Deputy District Attorney Rayney Meisel prosecuted the case against the defendant.

Mr. Madrigal-Carrillo was known to the child. In May of 2019, the young victim reported the abuse to her mother, as well as a teacher. During a forensic interview, the child again accused the defendant of sexual abuse and disclosed additional details.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation. Detectives confronted the defendant with these allegations. After initially denying any inappropriate contact, the defendant eventually admitted he accidentally touched the child while playing with her. However, during the change of plea hearing, Mr. Madrigal-Carrillo admitted to the abuse, took full responsibility and apologized for his actions.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the bravery of the victim in reporting this abuse and her family who supported her through the process. This office also wishes to thank Detectives Tim Miller and Robert Rookhuyzen of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case. CARES Northwest and the Oregon Department of Human Services were also instrumental in the prosecution of the defendant.

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