A Portland man has admitted to a deadly Southeast Portland stabbing that left a 44-year-old man dead more than a year ago, bringing a long-running homicide case to the brink of sentencing. Juan Jose Olguin, 29, pleaded guilty on Thursday in Multnomah County court to first-degree manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon. The killing happened on July 13, 2025, and Olguin is now scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026.
According to KOIN, Olguin changed his plea after prosecutors filed formal charging documents in the fatal attack and defense attorneys signaled they would resolve the case rather than go to trial. Court records reviewed by the outlet show the guilty pleas were entered for first-degree manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon, with sentencing set for Aug. 18.
Scene and Victim
The Portland Police Bureau identified the victim as 44-year-old Juan Carlos Vega-Matute and said officers responded to a report of a stabbing inside a residence on the 11400 block of Southeast Boise Street on July 13, 2025, according to a press release from the Portland Police Bureau. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide caused by stab wounds, and investigators assigned case number 25-186597 for anyone with information.
What Reporting Says About the Investigation
Court documents and witness statements, as described in coverage of the case, indicate that a witness put Olguin on speaker phone while speaking with police, then later found him at a nearby park, KOIN reports. The reporting also says Olguin called his mother and a roommate to confess. Investigators recovered a knife outside the kitchen of Olguin's residence, and a witness told police a recorded exchange captured the victim saying, "you killed me this time, Juan."
Court Outlook and Penalties
Under Oregon's sentencing framework, manslaughter in the first degree carries a presumptive Measure 11 prison term of 120 months, although judges can depart from that recommendation in individual cases under state guidelines. At Olguin's Aug. 18 hearing, the judge is expected to weigh the plea, any weapon enhancements and victim impact statements before setting a final sentence, and both defense and prosecution may file sentencing memoranda in advance.
Background and Local Reaction
The case first drew local attention when police arrested Olguin in July 2025. Local outlets, including coverage of the fatal Powellhurst-Gilbert stabbing and reporting from FOX 12, detailed the initial investigation and the police request for witnesses. Neighbors said the violence rattled the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood as detectives continued their work.
The guilty plea resolves the immediate question of criminal responsibility and shifts the case squarely into the sentencing phase, where victims' statements and prosecutorial recommendations will heavily influence the outcome. Olguin is due back in Multnomah County court on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, for the sentencing hearing.
