A Portland man accused of sexually assaulting at least five girls and young women, in several cases at gunpoint, has now pleaded guilty to a string of charges that prosecutors say reveal a chilling pattern of online targeting. Damani Jazz Anderson, 20, admitted Friday to multiple felony counts, including first-degree rape and kidnapping, and is set to be sentenced next Thursday, Jan. 29. Investigators say the assaults spanned the Portland metro area from February 2023 through August 2024 and included a 13-year-old victim. Authorities say many of the encounters began after contact on social media apps.
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office said Friday that Anderson pled guilty to four counts of first-degree rape, three counts of first-degree kidnapping with a firearm, three counts of unlawful use of a firearm, and single counts of first-degree attempted rape with a firearm and first-degree robbery with a firearm, according to KATU. At a Friday afternoon press conference, prosecutors walked through the pattern of offenses and praised the courage of survivors who reported the attacks.
“Damani Anderson sought out vulnerable victims on-line, lured them to secluded places, placed them in mortal fear, and terrorized them,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Robin Skarstad said. The DA’s office also publicly thanked Portland Police Detective Kyffin Marcum, Gresham Police Detective Larry Foulke and victim advocates Allison Miller and Alie Aguilera for their work, KATU reported.
How Investigators Say He Found Victims
Portland police say several victims reported meeting Anderson online and being lured to locations where they were then assaulted. According to investigators, many of the initial contacts came through social apps such as Snapchat. The Portland Police Bureau has urged anyone with additional information to contact Detective Kyffin Marcum, as detailed in a bureau release from the Portland Police Bureau.
Earlier Arrest and Investigation
Anderson was arrested in August 2024 after an alleged Aug. 9 attack in north Portland. U.S. Marshals helped locate him at a residence, KPTV reported. At the time, local coverage also noted that Portland police were actively seeking other potential victims, as reported in an earlier online dating app assault story.
What’s Next
Anderson is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday, Jan. 29, when a judge will decide his prison term. The hearing follows his guilty plea and will determine how the multiple counts, along with any applicable mandatory minimums, convert into an actual sentence.
Legal Context
Under Oregon law, rape in the first degree is a Class A felony defined in ORS 163.375. The statute, along with Measure 11 mandatory-minimum rules, can result in long, non-reducible prison terms for serious sex and violent offenses. See ORS 163.375 and background on mandatory minimums at the Oregon Courts website for more detail. Those laws mean the convictions on the counts Anderson admitted to could carry substantial prison time, depending on how the judge applies mandatory minimums and state sentencing guidelines.
If you or someone you know has information about these incidents or needs support, contact the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Victim Assistance Program at 503-988-3222 or visit the DA’s victims page at Multnomah County DA. The Portland Police Bureau also asks anyone with tips to contact Detective Kyffin Marcum through the bureau’s tip channels.
