A 78-year-old man from Sandy has been admitted to the sexual abuse of a homeless woman in a case that has drawn attention due to his criminal past, which includes murder. Dennis Dean Kersting entered a guilty plea on charges of Sodomy in the First Degree and Sexual Penetration in the First Degree in Clackamas County Circuit Court on November 14, as per a Clackamas County news release.
Kersting, who has served time previously for killing a 19-year-old in 1978 and other offenses, struck a plea deal that saw additional charges dismissed. After soliciting the 41-year-old victim in Portland this July, he will face a 116-month prison sentence without the chance of early release. Having met the victim on Southeast 82nd Avenue, he enticed her with offers of food and hygiene before driving her to his Sandy residence.
When she took a shower at his home, Kersting cunningly concealed her clothing and later committed the assaults. The victim was only able to escape after convincing Kersting to let her go outside for a cigarette, which led to a 911 call after she was seen running naked down the street, knocking on doors for help. Shortly thereafter, Kersting was apprehended by Sandy Police Officer Boyes, who found him carrying a knife stolen from the woman.
This is not Kersting's first brush with the law. With a knife taken from the woman, Officer Boyes discovered Kersting while he was fleeing his property. Before this incident, in 2022, he was convicted of Strangulation and Commercial Sexual Solicitation after trying to pay a co-worker for sex and then strangling her. Kersting's criminal history stretches back decades, including a 15-year sentence for the murder of a 19-year-old prostitute on Thanksgiving Day 1978, with the grim finale of dumping her body near a North Portland railyard. The door sought help from neighbors as the victim knocked naked.
Deputy District Attorneys Rachel Erickson and Torrey McConnell were responsible for prosecuting the case, details of which can be found in the county's statement. Kersting's sentencing is scheduled for February 10, 2026, at which time he will officially receive his sentence. This case carries case number 25CR45528 from the Clackamas County Circuit Court.
