In a recent ruling that has sent shockwaves through the community, a Multnomah County Circuit Judge, Christopher Ramras, sentenced 44-year-old Rafael Gonzalez Rodriguez to 525 months, or just under 44 years, in prison for a series of heinous crimes against two young girls, the district attorney's office reports. The lengthy sentence, handed down on September 19, comes after Rodriguez's conviction on 58 counts of sex abuse which included first-degree rape and sodomy, spanning several years. The victims were the daughters of Gonzalez Rodriguez's former girlfriend and were under 12 years old when the abuse began.
The case that culminated in this sentencing began unfolding in September 2023, when the victims disclosed the abuse to friends or neighbors, prompting the alerting of the child abuse hotline. This act led to a swift response from the Department of Human Services, Child Protective Services, and law enforcement, according to a press release. Gonzalez Rodriguez was found guilty on April 15, 2025, by a Multnomah County jury, following the victims' testimonies at CARES NW, where they detailed the extent of the historical sexual abuse.
Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Rachna Hajari, who prosecuted the case, expressed her thoughts after the verdict, saying, "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," a press release disclosed. In a poignant reminder, Deputy DA Hajari noted the timing of the sentence in relation to National Child Abuse Prevention Month, emphasizing the commitment to believing and seeking justice for children subjected to abuse.
The District Attorney's Office also acknowledged the efforts of the Gresham Police Department and extended gratitude toward MCDA Victim Advocate Alie Aguilera for her compassionate support of the victims and their family, Gonzalez Rodriguez, before the final sentencing, faced a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison, but the DA’s Office pursued a more substantial sentence, reflective of the severity and prolonged nature of the crimes, the district attorney's office called for a stricter action given the gravity and duration of the offenses, and Judge Ramras delivered exactly that, a near-44-year term that exceeds the mandatory minimum and speaks volumes to the seriousness with which the justice system treats such egregious offences.
