A Portland area man, Rafael Gonzalez-Rodriguez Jr., has been convicted on an array of sex abuse charges involving two young girls. A Multnomah County jury delivered the verdict on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office. Gonzalez-Rodriguez faces life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of 25 years.
The case which has now concluded in a guilty verdict on 58 counts, included six counts of Rape in the First Degree and 21 counts of Sex Abuse in the First Degree among others. The abuse involved two girls, with the youngest being under the age of 12 when the abuse began. The victims disclosed the sexual abuse in September 2023, which led to the investigation and subsequent trial that has put Gonzalez-Rodriguez behind bars.
In a public response to the conviction, Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Rachna Hajari highlighted the severity of the defendant’s actions. "What happened to these victims at the hands of the defendant was unimaginable. Though the trauma of the sexual abuse will be a part of their lives forever, I hope these convictions and the jury believing the victims will bring them some comfort on their journey of healing and recovery," said Hajari, as highlighted by the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office.
The office also expressed gratitude to the Gresham Police Department for its diligence during the investigation and to MCDA Victim Advocate Alie Aguilera for providing compassionate support to the victims and their families during this difficult time.
