Former Corrections Officer Sentenced To 20 Months In Prison In Sexual Misconduct Case (Photo) -05/27/25

HILLSBORO, Ore- On May 9, 2025, Levi David Gray, a former corrections officer at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, pleaded guilty to two counts of custodial sexual misconduct in the first degree. On May 23, 2025, Judge Ricardo Menchaca sentenced the defendant to 20 months in prison. Senior Deputy District Attorney Allison Brown prosecuted this case.
 

The defendant served as the supervisor of the Special Housing Unit, where the then 19-year-old victim was being held. She had recently moved to the only cell in the unit without surveillance cameras. On May 23, 2023, the defendant committed sex acts against the victim in her cell. A witness overheard the incident and encouraged the victim to report the abuse, which she did. The defendant was sent home immediately and placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. His employment was later terminated.
 

The victim was taken to the hospital, where an exam was performed. The defendant’s DNA was located on the victim’s body. Surveillance footage also recorded Mr. Gray as he took the victim to her cell by himself, which is a policy violation, and stayed in that area for an extended period.
 

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Menchaca imposed a 20-month prison sentence, which is the maximum sentence based on the Oregon Felony Sentencing Guidelines. The defense argued for a probationary sentence, but the Judge agreed with the State that prison was appropriate. The victim was also present and provided a victim impact statement.
 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the victim for reporting this abuse. This office also acknowledges the Oregon Department of Corrections for taking swift action against the defendant once the abuse was disclosed, and the Oregon State Police for their investigative work.  
 

In addition to his prison sentence, the defendant will be stripped of his Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) certification and will be barred from serving as a corrections officer upon his release. He was also ordered to serve three years of post-prison supervision, to undergo sex offender treatment and a mental health evaluation, and was barred from any future contact with the victim.
 

Mr. Gray will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to serve his sentence. 

Nicholas James Richmond Sentenced To Five Years In Prison (Photo) -05/23/25

HILLSBORO, Ore- On May 2, 2025, a Washington County jury found Nicholas James Richmond guilty of two counts of burglary in the first degree, theft in the first degree, criminal mischief in the first degree, aggravated theft in the first degree, and four counts of felon in possession of a firearm. On May 12, 2025, the defendant was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay more than $57,000 in restitution to his victims. Deputy District Attorney Mahalee Streblow prosecuted this case before Judge Andrew Erwin.

 

On January 29, 2024, Tualatin police were notified that someone broke into a locked and refrigerated trailer and a separate shipping container belonging to an area robotics company. They reported 40 lithium batteries worth $44,000 were stolen along with a riding lawnmower and other personal effects. The burglar used a cutting torch to gain entry, which caused another $1,000 in damage to the trailer.
 

The victim located a Facebook marketplace post advertising the sale of one of the stolen batteries and alerted police. Investigators set up a meeting with the seller. When she arrived, she had three of the stolen batteries with her. She told detectives that her husband and the defendant were concealing the stolen equipment at a storage facility. Investigators located a storage facility close to the defendant’s home and confirmed he was renting a unit there. After obtaining a search warrant, they entered the unit and found 12 of the missing batteries. They also obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s truck, where they located multiple guns. The defendant is a convicted felon and barred from possessing firearms. Investigators then obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s phone, where they discovered deleted pictures of the stolen riding lawnmower.
 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the investigative work of the Tualatin Police Department on this case. Mr. Richmond will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to serve his sentence.

Ryan Michael Hancock Guilty In Rape Case, Additional Victims Sought (Photo) -05/20/25

HILLSBORO, Ore- On May 9, 2025, Ryan Michael Hancock, age 23, was convicted of rape in the first degree, unlawful sexual penetration in the first degree, sexual abuse in the first degree, and three counts of sexual abuse in the second degree. Senior Deputy District Attorney Chris Lewman prosecuted the defendant before Judge Erik Buchér.

 

On August 20, 2020, the 18-year-old defendant met the first victim, a 15-year-old girl, at a party. The defendant gave the teenager alcohol, and she became extremely intoxicated. Later that night, the defendant took the victim to his car where he raped and sexually assaulted her. She told him no several times but was too impaired to stop the attack. She disclosed the abuse to her friend the next day and disclosed to loved ones and Hillsboro police in 2021.

 

In March of 2022, the defendant drove to the second victim’s house and convinced her to get into his car. He and a friend drove the 17-year-old victim to a park and forced her to drink alcohol and smoke marijuana despite her repeated objections. She became intoxicated. The defendant sexually assaulted her and refused to let her leave. The victim was able to text a friend for help. The friend went to the park and saw the victim get out of the defendant’s car in a state of undress. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigated.

 

Investigators fear there could be additional victims. Anyone with information about Mr. Hancock should contact law enforcement.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the victim for their bravery in reporting this abuse. This office also acknowledges the work of the Hillsboro Police Department and Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

 

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 30, 2025.

Teresa Louise Biswanath Sentenced To Two Years In Prison Following Death Of Infant In Her Care (Photo) -05/13/25

HILLSBORO, Ore- On April 30, 2025, a Washington County jury found Teresa Louise Biswanath guilty of criminally negligent homicide. On May 9, 2025, Judge Erik Buchér sentenced the defendant to two years in prison. Senior Deputy District Attorney Chris Lewman prosecuted this case.
 

On August 30, 2022, an 11-month-old child died while under the care of the defendant, who was running an unlicensed in-home daycare. The defendant previously worked at a well-known childcare center where she underwent extensive training, including safe sleeping techniques for infants. That training precluded the practice of infant swaddling, and the defendant told police she followed that same policy at her business.
 

On the day of the child’s death, the defendant was caring for five children, including the victim. During nap time, the defendant squeezed the victim into a swaddle much too small for his size, one designed for newborns less than three months old who could not roll over or crawl as he could. She used straps to bind the child’s arms and put a pacifier with a 6-inch stuffed animal attached into his mouth.
 

The defendant initially tried to get the child to sleep in the same room with the other children, but eventually took him to a bedroom on the second floor of the home. She placed him facedown on the bed with his arms constrained by the swaddle and the pacifier in his mouth. The victim was upstairs for at least one hour as the defendant was in and out of the bedroom. The defendant left to check on the other children and when she returned to the upstairs room, she found the victim blue and unresponsive. She attempted to perform CPR while her husband called an ambulance. First responders were unable to revive the child.
 

Deaths related to an unsafe sleep environment are a leading cause of preventable child fatality nationwide, including in Washington County. To address this issue, the Washington County Child Abuse MDT has partnered with the National Cribs for Kids Program to provide free crib kits to eligible families residing in Washington County. In addition to providing a free portable crib and educational materials, community partners from the Washington County Public Health Maternal, Child & Family Program and the Healthy Families Program will work with eligible families to provide safe sleep education and distribute cribs. Please visit our website to learn more about this effort.
 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office sends its deepest condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones.
 

In addition to her prison sentence, the defendant is barred from ever operating a licensed childcare center. She will also serve three years of post-prison supervision and was ordered to have no contact with the victim’s family.