Volume 3 | December, 2020
Greetings and welcome to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office quarterly newsletter. These past several months have been difficult not only for the work we do here in the DA’s Office but also for so many people in our community. Wildfires, the pandemic, and political and economic uncertainty have challenged all of us, but I can report that the over 130 men and women in the DA’s Office have been up to the task of our mission: seeking justice and protecting our community. 
 
In this edition you can read about an exciting new initiative we started to solve cold homicide and sexual assault cases, a creative solution we developed with the county to hold socially-distanced court proceedings in the new Wingspan Event Center at the fairgrounds, and a new annual fall food and supply drive tradition that our DA’s Office Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee started to benefit members of our community. Looking forward, I’m particularly excited to share news of our “Keeping Kids Safe Online” event on December 10th, designed to help parents (like myself!) protect their children in our increasingly virtual world. I hope you find this newsletter informative and I wish you and your family a safe and healthy holiday season.

-District Attorney Kevin Barton
Keeping Kids Safe Online
Distanced learning, popular social media applications and video games. Our children are more connected to the internet than ever before, and cyber predators know it. These predators are using proven methods along with new strategies to connect with kids in an effort to take advantage of them.

Join us as Senior Deputy District Attorney Andy Pulver details the latest threats and how to protect against them.
Keeping Kids Safe Online
Zoom Virtual Presentation
Thursday, December 10th
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Video Spotlight
Honoring Domestic Violence Awareness Month

The Washington County District Attorney's Office joined our partners in law enforcement to honor Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. Due to COVID, we had to make some changes to our community outreach efforts, but our team worked to educate those experiencing abuse that help is available.

Please watch the video above to see how we are working to support survivors.
KGW-TV Report on DA Office Cold Case Grant

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office was awarded $470,000 in grant funding to investigate and prosecute violent crime cold cases that involve identified DNA associated with a possible suspect.

KGW-TV recently highlighted the grant and our efforts to solve these cases.


Courthouse News
Wingspan Court Helps Address COVID Backlog
A collaboration of criminal justice partners in Washington County has developed an innovative way to clear a large backlog of criminal cases caused by COVID-19 restricted court operations ordered by the Oregon Chief Justice and Washington County Presiding Judge in March of 2020. As of November 30, 2020, this court has resolved more than 280 criminal cases and reduced the stress on the court system so that it can continue to function.
 

DA Barton spoke with KOIN-TV and the Pamplin Media Group about these efforts.
Adam Michael Wallace Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Measure 11 Crime
HILLSBORO, Ore.- On October 23, 2020, Adam Michael Wallace pleaded guilty to two counts of using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct and two counts of luring a minor. Mr. Wallace was sentenced to 30 years in prison by Judge Erik Buchèr. Senior Deputy District Attorney Allison Brown prosecuted the case against the defendant.
Celebrating Success
Veterans Treatment Court Holds Virtual Graduation Ceremony
We’d like to congratulate Timothy Menard for successfully completing the Veterans Treatment Court program. In October, Judge Charles Bailey had the chance to commend Mr. Menard for the hard work and dedication it took to turn things around and see this program all the way through.

Mr. Menard served his country honorably in the United States Air Force and was deployed for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Unfortunately, he was arrested for DUII in 2019, but due to his military service, he was given a chance to enroll in the Veterans Treatment Court. This program is designed to help offenders whose honorable military service is somehow linked to their criminal conduct. Mr. Menard met the criteria and committed himself to change for the better.



In the Community
Fall Donation Drive a Success!

Our fall donation drive was a success! Our DA’s Office Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee spearheaded the drive which included a friendly competition between our staff and members of the local defense bar to see who could collect the most. In total, our offices gathered hundreds of items to be donated and raised close to $3,500 in cash and gift cards.

The donated items ranged from food for Thanksgiving dinners to school supplies, personal protective equipment and baby items.

Centro Cultural organized the donated food into Thanksgiving baskets to benefit approximately 43 families in Washington County! The non-food items were taken to the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization to be distributed to Washington County families.
DA Barton Participates in Building Bridges 2020 Community Event

On October 22, District Attorney Kevin Barton joined fellow community, civic and religious leaders to participate in the 5th anniversary of Building Bridges of Understanding in Our Communities.

Designed to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the communities they serve, the Building Bridges gathering went virtual this year to accommodate the hundreds of people who attended.
 
DA Barton is committed to community involvement and believes this event is a positive way to build new relationships and to strengthen existing ones. 
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