Washington County detectives are urging anyone who believes they were abused to come forward after a 53-year-old man was arrested and later indicted on an extensive set of sex crime charges. Investigators say the suspect, identified as Jacob Joaquin Mandes Sr., was taken into custody after Astoria police shared a report that he had told a family member he sexually assaulted a child in Cornelius. Authorities say they believe there could be more victims in multiple counties as the case works its way through the courts.
According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, a Washington County grand jury on May 20 indicted Mandes on two counts of first‑degree rape; two counts of first‑degree sodomy; two counts of second‑degree sodomy; two counts of second‑degree unlawful sexual penetration; and 11 counts of second‑degree sexual abuse. The sheriff’s office says a judge ordered Mandes held without the possibility of release while the case is pending, and that detectives are working with partners in Astoria, Columbia County and Clatsop County as the investigation continues.
How the Case Unfolded
Local reporting notes that detectives opened the investigation after the Astoria Police Department relayed that Mandes had admitted the assault to a family member, and he was arrested the same day that report came in. Coverage also points out that investigators developed probable cause connecting alleged incidents to the past decade and that Mandes has lived or worked in Washington, Columbia and Clatsop counties, with prior addresses in Cornelius, Hillsboro, Astoria and Vernonia. For more on those developments, see KGW.
Where Victims and Witnesses Can Get Help
Detectives are asking anyone with information to call the sheriff’s office at 503‑846‑2500 and reference case number 50‑26‑6744, according to the sheriff’s office. Survivors looking for support can contact the Sexual Assault Resource Center at 503‑626‑9100 or the national RAINN hotline at 800‑656‑4673, both of which offer crisis counseling and referrals.
Legal Notes
An indictment is a formal accusation, not proof of guilt, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are convicted in court. State court decisions and guidance explain that while an indictment can result in pretrial detention and other restrictions, prosecutors must still prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. For background on those legal standards, see materials from the Oregon Supreme Court.
