HILLSBORO, Ore- On October 10, 2023, following the completion of jury selection on the first day of trial, defendant Rian Alden pleaded guilty to Attempted Assault in the Second Degree, a felony. Senior Judge Beth Roberts sentenced the defendant to a suspended three-year prison sentence and formal probation to be supervised by the Washington County Community Corrections Department. Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeff Lesowski prosecuted the case against Mr. Alden. 

On March 30, 2018, Mr. Alden was working as a deputy in the Washington County Jail. The defendant was assigned to the intake area. The victim, Albert Molina, had just been arrested for DUII and was being processed into the jail by the defendant. Mr. Molina was intoxicated at the time and was struggling to comply with the defendant’s commands. During the booking photo process, the defendant rushed towards the victim and forced him into a wall. The incident knocked the victim unconscious. Mr. Molina was transported to the hospital where he was treated for significant injuries to the head. 

The defendant was indicted by a grand jury in 2020 for Assault in the Second Degree.  In 2021, the Oregon Supreme Court decided State v. Owen, which changed the legal proof requirements for that crime making convictions more difficult. Despite the change in Oregon law, this case proceeded to trial, with jury selection being completed on October 10, 2023. After jury selection, the defendant elected to change his plea. 

Importantly the victim, Mr. Molina, supported the resolution of the case.  Mr. Molina made it known that he did not want Mr. Alden to be a police officer again, he wanted the case to resolve with a plea, and did not want Mr. Alden to serve a prison sentence.  This felony resolution will accomplish all of those goals.

As part of the sentence, Judge Roberts also ordered the defendant to submit a DNA sample and to undergo an anger evaluation and treatment.  If Mr. Alden violates any terms of his supervision, the court will be able to impose the suspended three-year prison sentence. 

HILLSBORO, Ore- On October 6, 2023, a Washington County jury found Edi Villalobos Jr. guilty of Murder in the Second Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, two counts of Burglary in the First Degree, two counts of Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, Reckless Driving, and Recklessly Endangering Another Person. Senior Deputy District Attorney John Gerhard and Deputy District Attorney Nadya Martin prosecuted the case before Judge Eric Butterfield. 

On April 10, 2021, the defendant and his girlfriend visited his mother’s house in Cornelius, Oregon. His mother was in a long-term relationship with the victim, Artemio Guzman-Olvera, and the pair lived together in the home. When the victim arrived home from work, the defendant rushed towards him and stabbed him repeatedly with a knife. Family members were unaware of any dispute between the two and the attack was unprovoked. 

Family members rendered aid to the victim until first responders could arrive. The victim was flown to an area hospital where he later died from numerous stab wounds. The defendant and his girlfriend fled the scene in their vehicle. 

The pair then drove to Wilsonville, Oregon to meet up with two friends. All four people were inside an apartment when the defendant attacked the two friends with the same knife he used to murder Artemio Guzman-Olvera in another unprovoked attack. The male victim suffered serious injuries but was able to alert law enforcement. This incident was prosecuted by the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office, and the defendant pled guilty in that case to Assault in the First Degree and was sentenced to 90 months in prison. 

The defendant fled the Wilsonville scene back towards Tigard, and numerous officers responded to the area and eventually located the defendant’s vehicle. He then led officers on a chase at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour through dense traffic. The defendant eventually could not maneuver through traffic and fled his vehicle on foot, leaving his girlfriend behind.  The defendant jumped over several fences and fled into the Summerfield retirement community.

A short time later, the defendant broke into a home in Tigard, Oregon. An elderly couple was inside the residence at the time. He told them he needed help and began washing his hands and clothing with cleaning supplies. He attempted to steal the homeowner’s clothing as well. At some point, the homeowner received a phone call from a neighbor during which he was able to discretely ask the neighbor to call 9-1-1, which she did. The defendant became increasingly agitated and fled the home, running deeper into the Summerfield community, where he was ultimately arrested by police. 

Detectives obtained search warrants for the vehicle the defendant was driving and the home where the initial stabbing took place. They found blood, bloody clothing, and a knife in the car. They also found a sheath in the home that matched that of the knife found in the vehicle. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to acknowledge the work of the Washington County Major Crimes Team and all agencies who helped search for and apprehend the suspect. 

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 20, 2023. The defendant will remain in custody until that time. 

HILLSBORO, Ore- On Wednesday, October 3, the Washington County Board of Commissioners voted to accept $533,200 in grant funds from the United States Department of Justice. The grant, “Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA,” will support continued efforts to prosecute cold cases with DNA evidence. This is a competitive grant award intended to increase the capacity of state and local prosecution offices to address violent crime cold cases.

The District Attorney's Office was awarded a similar grant in 2020 enabling the creation of the Cold Case Unit. The Cold Case Unit is operated in partnership with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. That initial funding helped investigators identify a suspect in a 1988 homicide. The case remained unsolved until this office used DNA evidence to identify Robert Elmer Atrops as the suspect. Mr. Atrops has since been arrested and charged with Murder in the Second Degree in the death of his estranged wife. 

“We are very pleased to be awarded another federal grant which allows us to pursue justice for victims of crimes, no matter how much time has passed,” said District Attorney Kevin Barton.  “The Washington County DA’s Office Cold Case Unit has shown incredible progress in the last three years, and we look forward to working to solve more cases with this additional grant funding.”

In 2020, this office conducted a review of all cold case homicides to identify their potential to be prosecuted with additional investigation. Of the 43 identified cases dating back to 1968, at least 14 contain DNA evidence. Additionally, there are potentially hundreds of unsolved sexual assault cases over the decades that contain DNA evidence. This office is confident many of these crimes can be solved. 

This grant award will allow this office to continue working on resolving cold case homicides by funding two part-time investigators, one part-time forensic consultant, and other associated expenses through September 30, 2026. This grant also supports the unit’s work to inventory and investigate additional cold case violent crimes including sexual assaults. We are hopeful that through these efforts, victims will receive the justice they deserve, the community at large can receive a sense of resolution and those who committed these crimes can finally be held responsible. 

HILLSBORO, Ore- On September 26, 2023, Lauro Vazquez-Cordova plead guilty to three counts of Rape in the Second Degree and three counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. Deputy District Attorney Chris Lewman prosecuted the case against the defendant. 

The defendant sexually abused two children. The abuse came to light in January 2022 after one of the victims confided in a school counselor. That counselor immediately notified the Oregon Department of Human Services, which in turn alerted the Forest Grove Police Department.

Investigators met with the victims as did medical experts at CARES Northwest. The victims provided details of the abuse which occurred in multiple locations across Washington County, Oregon. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the victims for their bravery in reporting the defendant's actions and for their courage throughout the judicial process. This office also acknowledges the work of the Forest Grove Police Department, Hillsboro Police Department, DHS, and CARES Northwest. 

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 11, 2023. The defendant will remain in custody until that time. 

HILLSBORO, Ore- On September 25, 2023, Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Erwin sentenced Vincent Anthony Debellis to 90 months in prison. This sentence comes after the defendant was convicted by a jury of Assault in the First Degree, two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Cocaine, and Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine. Senior Deputy District Attorney Allison Brown prosecuted the defendant.

On February 24, 2023, the defendant and victim were in downtown Hillsboro, Oregon when they became engaged in a verbal argument. Mr. Debellis had a loaded handgun concealed in his jacket pocket. During the argument, the defendant fired a round through his jacket at the victim. The bullet struck his leg and shattered his femur. 

The defendant ran from the scene. He attempted to hide the gun and jacket behind a phone booth at the nearby transit center. He then boarded a bus. Hillsboro police officers quickly located him and arrested him without incident.  He had a restricted weapon in his pocket and a large amount of cash. Officers later recovered the loaded handgun. 

The defendant admitted to shooting the victim but claimed it was in self-defense. Police searched his van which was parked nearby and found large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine and other items associated with drug dealing. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office acknowledges the work of the Hillsboro Police Department for its swift response and apprehension of the defendant. This office also thanks the Oregon State Police Forensic Lab for its work on this case. 

Mr. Debellis will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence. The prison sentence will be followed by three years of post-prison supervision. 

HILLSBORO, Ore- On September 22, 2023, Jose Juan Mandujano-Aguilar pleaded guilty to Assault in the Second Degree and was sentenced to 70 months in prison under Measure 11 by Washington County Circuit Court Judge Eric Butterfield. Chief Deputy District Attorney Bracken McKey prosecuted the case against the defendant.

On August 19, 2022, the defendant violently attacked Lieutenant Neil Potter shortly after the officer parked his patrol vehicle near the rear entrance of the Hillsboro Police Department. The attack was unprovoked and left Lt. Potter with a broken nose and a severe concussion.

The Washington County Major Crimes Team was immediately activated. Investigators reviewed surveillance camera footage and interviewed two eyewitnesses who observed the attack. They determined the defendant rushed towards the officer shortly after he parked his vehicle and began attacking him. The officer attempted to create space between himself and the defendant by retreating towards the back of his vehicle, but Mr. Mandujano-Aguilar rushed the officer and continued attacking him. During the assault, the defendant repeatedly reached for the officer’s duty weapon which was holstered on his belt. Lt. Potter, in fear for his life and acting in self-defense, gained control of the weapon, and fired three shots which struck the defendant in the face and head.

A review of Lt. Potter’s use of deadly force by the Washington County District Attorney’s Office found the officer was entirely justified and his actions were necessary to save his own life. The full opinion issued by CDDA McKey can be found here.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office acknowledges the work of the Washington County Major Crimes Team on this case.

The defendant will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.