Man Arrested for Abusing Multiple Children; Additional Victims Suspected

Over the past several months, Violent Crimes Unit detectives with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office have been investigating a sexual abuse case after multiple children disclosed being abused by the same person.

A Washington County grand jury issued an indictment against 39-year-old Jacob Paul Luther Bentley of Bay City. With the help of the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office, Bentley was arrested on June 3, 2024. He was booked into the Washington County Jail for 12 counts of sexual abuse in the first degree and two counts of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct.

During the investigation, detectives learned two other children also disclosed that Bentley abused them as well. The abuse was reported to have happened in both Washington and Tillamook counties. Investigators learned Bentley lived in Hillsboro, Cornelius, Forest Grove, and Bay City communities. The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are possible in the future.

To date, four children have reported Bentley abused them when they were under ten years old. Detectives are very concerned about additional victims and would like anyone with more information to call the Sheriff’s Office at 503-846-2500.