A 30-year-old man accused of posing as a teenager on Snapchat to sexually assault a child near Metzger Park now faces 10 felony counts in Washington County court.
Jason Emmanuel Lara-Vazquez was arraigned Friday, Oct. 9, on two counts of second-degree rape, two counts of second-degree sodomy, four counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of second-degree unlawful sexual penetration, KGW reported. A preventive detention hearing is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 16. No plea has been entered, and no attorney for Lara-Vazquez is listed in available court records.
As we reported Oct. 9, the Washington County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone who had contact with Lara-Vazquez on Snapchat or other social media to come forward.
The case began Saturday, July 18, when deputies responded to an assault call at a home near Metzger Park in unincorporated Washington County. A father told deputies he had come home and found an adult man in bed with his child, according to a WCSO press release. Court documents show the victim was under 14.
The Sheriff's Office Violent Crimes Unit identified Lara-Vazquez as the suspect. The agency said he posed as a teenager to contact the victim on Snapchat and allegedly had sexual contact with her more than once.
Lara-Vazquez was hospitalized the night of July 18 after a confrontation at the home. KGW reported that the Sheriff's Office confirmed the child's father had injured him.
A Washington County grand jury indicted Lara-Vazquez on Sept. 15. He was arrested Sept. 24 with help from the Vancouver Police Department and booked into the Clark County Jail. He was extradited to the Washington County Jail on Thursday, Oct. 8, ahead of the arraignment.
The Sheriff's Office released Lara-Vazquez's booking photo under Oregon House Bill 3273, which allows release of booking photos to help identify additional criminal activity. Violent Crimes Unit (VCU) detectives said they are concerned there may be more victims.
Anyone with information can contact VCU detectives at 503-846-2500, referencing case number 50-26-10111.
