Oregon City Man Arraigned In Canby Child Kidnapping And Assault Case
Oregon City, OR – A 36-year-old Oregon City man entered a not guilty plea Thursday, at his arraignment on an 11- count indictment in connection with the October 28th kidnapping of a 10-year-old Canby girl, and a vicious hammer attack on her 12-year-old sister.
Prosecutors say the indictment charges Vince Chavez with Attempted Murder, Assault, Kidnapping, Burglary, Sex Abuse and other sex crimes, as well as a charge of Strangulation. Clackamas County Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Owens said, “there’s also a new allegation in the indictment that the 10-year-old was struck with a hammer, as well.”
Chavez is accused of walking into their Canby apartment through an unlocked door, in the early morning hours of October 28th. He allegedly hit the 12-year-old girl in the head with a hammer repeatedly, and kidnapped her 10-year old sister, Violet Hay, later sexually assaulting her.
After a desperate 13-hour search, the girl was rescued from the closet of an Oregon City home, where Chavez was also arrested trying to flee.
Chavez is being held in the Clackamas County Jail, until a December first preventive detention hearing. At that time, a judge will determine whether Chavez will continue to be held without bail, pending trial. A trial date may also be set that day.
Chavez could be facing decades in prison if convicted. Owens said the sex offense counts are Jessica’s Law charges, meaning they carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years each, upon conviction.