A 61-year-old man who spent years as a foster parent in the Hillsboro area is facing 11 counts of first-degree sexual abuse, and investigators say they believe there could be more victims who haven't yet come forward. Felimon Zaragoza-Herrera was arrested on Sept. 3, and police are now asking anyone who was fostered by him to reach out.
The arrest followed a secret indictment approved by a Washington County grand jury, according to court documents reported by KGW. The station's report also discusses the court filings.
According to the Hillsboro Police Department, Zaragoza-Herrera was a foster parent in the Hillsboro area for many years before his arrest under case number 26-16789. Police can be reached at 503-629-0111 for anyone with information.
Charges Span Six Years, Three Victims
Court records reviewed by the same station show the 11 charges involve three victims, all girls who were under 14 years old at the time of the alleged abuse, which is said to have occurred between 2013 and 2019. That multi-year timeline is only detailed in the court filings themselves, going beyond what police included in their initial public release.
Because Zaragoza-Herrera fostered children in the Hillsboro area for an extended period, investigators believe additional victims may exist who have not yet come forward, and they are actively asking former foster children who lived with him to get in touch. The police department's request specifically calls on anyone who was, or knows someone who was, a foster child in his home.
What Oregon Law Says About the Charges
First-degree sexual abuse is classified as a Class B felony under Oregon Revised Statute 163.427, and a first-degree sexual-abuse offense prosecuted under Measure 11 carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 75 months in prison, as outlined by Public.Law. The article does not address how the penalty would apply to all 11 counts in this case.
The years-long gap between the alleged 2013-2019 abuse and the 2026 charges is reflected in the court filings, which place the alleged conduct between 2013 and 2019.
Foster Care Screening and a System Under Strain
Oregon requires prospective foster parents to undergo criminal background checks, home safety inspections, and pre-service training, according to GOBHI. Those requirements are meant to screen out unsafe caregivers before certification is granted.
Even so, reported incidents of child abuse within Oregon's foster care system reached an all-time high in 2025, per state child welfare data reported by Oregon Public Broadcasting. That record came after Oregon officials settled a class-action lawsuit in May 2024 whose primary goal was to reduce abuse in care, the outlet's reporting notes.
Oregon officials also published a first report related to the settlement. The agency also operates a child abuse hotline.
For now, the Hillsboro case remains under investigation, with police continuing to seek out anyone who lived in Zaragoza-Herrera's home as a foster child during his years caring for children in the area.
