83-Year-Old Gary Douglas Caughey Sentenced for Public Indecency at Beaverton Target, Required to Register as Sex Offender

An 83-year-old man, Gary Douglas Caughey, after pleading guilty to an act of public indecency, has been sentenced to a five-year prison term beginning June 3, 2024. According to Washington County District Attorney's Office, Washington County Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Guptill rendered the judgment that also includes registering as a sex offender. Caughey, with prior convictions for rape and kidnapping, was arrested following an incident at a Target in Beaverton, Oregon.

Appearing in court, Deputy District Attorney Jason Weiner handled the prosecution, revealing that Caughey's criminal history extends back to 1973. Among the young girls he targeted throughout his life are those in Oregon and Nebraska, leading to prior jail time that spanned decades. While wearing a sweatshirt on March 9, Caughey eschewed decency, was found following teenagers and was observed by store employees engaging in lewd conduct.

The incident escalated when two teenagers noticed what Caughey was doing and reported it to store staff. After a hasty retreat before his identification could be secured, law enforcement was informed with a crucial piece of evidence supplied by vigilant workers – the man's vehicle's license plate number. Utilizing this, deputies from the Washington County Sheriff's Office could identify Caughey as the suspect.

In the follow-up, Caughey was apprehended at his residence on the subsequent day, during which a critical detail emerged. "He was wearing the same sweatshirt and admitted he was in the store the day before," the deputies chronicled the case, who were able to find a modified pocket on his sweatshirt that facilitated his illicit activity. Concerns remain that there might be more victims that have yet to come forward, prompting public calls for any information related to additional crimes by Caughey.