Topline: The boy was hours from death when doctors discovered the damage caused by the assault, medical testimony revealed.
Published: September 3, 2025 9:00 am ET
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Joseph Washington (via Multnomah County DA's Office)
PORTLAND, OR — A Portland man was sentenced to more than ten years in prison for violently assaulting his 20-month-old son, leaving the child with severe injuries.
The sentence follows a jury’s conviction earlier this month on multiple charges stemming from an April 2024 incident in Southeast Portland.
According to a release from the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, 37-year-old Joseph Washington was found guilty of first-degree assault for causing serious physical injury to a child under six, as well as third-degree assault and first-degree criminal mistreatment.
On August 28, Judge Christopher Ramras handed down a sentence of 121 months in prison.
The case centered on events that took place the evening of April 4, 2024, when Washington was caring for the toddler at his girlfriend’s home. Later that night, he contacted the child’s mother, reporting the child had been vomiting excessively. Despite her urging that the child be taken to the hospital immediately, Washington instead returned the child to her. Alarmed by her son’s condition, she took him straight to the emergency room.
Medical professionals determined the toddler had suffered a perforated small intestine—an injury so severe that it caused bile to back up into his digestive system. The child required emergency surgery. The treating physician later testified the injury was caused by blunt force trauma and that, without treatment, the child likely would not have survived the night.
During the investigation, Washington’s girlfriend told authorities that he admitted to hitting the child twice after becoming upset with him. Prosecutors emphasized the brutality of the act in court, describing the assault as not only violent but nearly fatal, prosecutors said.
“The Defendant’s violence nearly killed this child,” Deputy District Attorney Mihnea Moga said after sentencing, according to the DA’s Office. “Despite his attempts to ignore the child’s symptoms and persuading the mother to have the child go to sleep that night, her decision to take him to the hospital saved his life. The verdict in this case represents accountability for his gruesome behavior.”
Washington’s criminal record was also highlighted by prosecutors, who noted a history of violent offenses spanning nearly two decades. His past convictions include domestic violence-related strangulation and assault in Washington County (2023), a federal conviction for sex trafficking (2010), kidnapping and second-degree assault in Multnomah County (2010), and multiple assault charges in Clackamas County dating back to 2005.
The case was investigated by Detective Steven Morinville, whose work was acknowledged by the DA’s Office, along with Victim Advocate Alie Aguilera, who supported the victims throughout the proceedings.
“This was a horrifying act of abuse against a defenseless child,” said Moga. “Protecting children is what the community is tasked with, and I am thankful to the jury for reaching the proper conclusion and holding the defendant accountable.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Father Gets 10-Year Sentence for Brutally Assaulting Infant While Girlfriend Was at Work
The boy was hours from death when doctors discovered the damage caused by the assault, medical testimony revealed.
By Jacob Charles
Published: September 3, 2025 9:00 am ET
Joseph Washington (via Multnomah County DA's Office)
PORTLAND, OR — A Portland man was sentenced to more than ten years in prison for violently assaulting his 20-month-old son, leaving the child with severe injuries.
The sentence follows a jury’s conviction earlier this month on multiple charges stemming from an April 2024 incident in Southeast Portland.
According to a release from the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, 37-year-old Joseph Washington was found guilty of first-degree assault for causing serious physical injury to a child under six, as well as third-degree assault and first-degree criminal mistreatment.
On August 28, Judge Christopher Ramras handed down a sentence of 121 months in prison.
The case centered on events that took place the evening of April 4, 2024, when Washington was caring for the toddler at his girlfriend’s home. Later that night, he contacted the child’s mother, reporting the child had been vomiting excessively. Despite her urging that the child be taken to the hospital immediately, Washington instead returned the child to her. Alarmed by her son’s condition, she took him straight to the emergency room.
Medical professionals determined the toddler had suffered a perforated small intestine—an injury so severe that it caused bile to back up into his digestive system. The child required emergency surgery. The treating physician later testified the injury was caused by blunt force trauma and that, without treatment, the child likely would not have survived the night.
During the investigation, Washington’s girlfriend told authorities that he admitted to hitting the child twice after becoming upset with him. Prosecutors emphasized the brutality of the act in court, describing the assault as not only violent but nearly fatal, prosecutors said.
“The Defendant’s violence nearly killed this child,” Deputy District Attorney Mihnea Moga said after sentencing, according to the DA’s Office. “Despite his attempts to ignore the child’s symptoms and persuading the mother to have the child go to sleep that night, her decision to take him to the hospital saved his life. The verdict in this case represents accountability for his gruesome behavior.”
Washington’s criminal record was also highlighted by prosecutors, who noted a history of violent offenses spanning nearly two decades. His past convictions include domestic violence-related strangulation and assault in Washington County (2023), a federal conviction for sex trafficking (2010), kidnapping and second-degree assault in Multnomah County (2010), and multiple assault charges in Clackamas County dating back to 2005.
The case was investigated by Detective Steven Morinville, whose work was acknowledged by the DA’s Office, along with Victim Advocate Alie Aguilera, who supported the victims throughout the proceedings.
“This was a horrifying act of abuse against a defenseless child,” said Moga. “Protecting children is what the community is tasked with, and I am thankful to the jury for reaching the proper conclusion and holding the defendant accountable.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Father Gets 10-Year Sentence for Brutally Assaulting Infant While Girlfriend Was at Work
The boy was hours from death when doctors discovered the damage caused by the assault, medical testimony revealed.
By Jacob Charles
Published: September 3, 2025 9:00 am ET
Joseph Washington (via Multnomah County DA's Office)
PORTLAND, OR — A Portland man was sentenced to more than ten years in prison for violently assaulting his 20-month-old son, leaving the child with severe injuries.
The sentence follows a jury’s conviction earlier this month on multiple charges stemming from an April 2024 incident in Southeast Portland.
According to a release from the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, 37-year-old Joseph Washington was found guilty of first-degree assault for causing serious physical injury to a child under six, as well as third-degree assault and first-degree criminal mistreatment.
On August 28, Judge Christopher Ramras handed down a sentence of 121 months in prison.
The case centered on events that took place the evening of April 4, 2024, when Washington was caring for the toddler at his girlfriend’s home. Later that night, he contacted the child’s mother, reporting the child had been vomiting excessively. Despite her urging that the child be taken to the hospital immediately, Washington instead returned the child to her. Alarmed by her son’s condition, she took him straight to the emergency room.
Medical professionals determined the toddler had suffered a perforated small intestine—an injury so severe that it caused bile to back up into his digestive system. The child required emergency surgery. The treating physician later testified the injury was caused by blunt force trauma and that, without treatment, the child likely would not have survived the night.
During the investigation, Washington’s girlfriend told authorities that he admitted to hitting the child twice after becoming upset with him. Prosecutors emphasized the brutality of the act in court, describing the assault as not only violent but nearly fatal, prosecutors said.
“The Defendant’s violence nearly killed this child,” Deputy District Attorney Mihnea Moga said after sentencing, according to the DA’s Office. “Despite his attempts to ignore the child’s symptoms and persuading the mother to have the child go to sleep that night, her decision to take him to the hospital saved his life. The verdict in this case represents accountability for his gruesome behavior.”
Washington’s criminal record was also highlighted by prosecutors, who noted a history of violent offenses spanning nearly two decades. His past convictions include domestic violence-related strangulation and assault in Washington County (2023), a federal conviction for sex trafficking (2010), kidnapping and second-degree assault in Multnomah County (2010), and multiple assault charges in Clackamas County dating back to 2005.
The case was investigated by Detective Steven Morinville, whose work was acknowledged by the DA’s Office, along with Victim Advocate Alie Aguilera, who supported the victims throughout the proceedings.
“This was a horrifying act of abuse against a defenseless child,” said Moga. “Protecting children is what the community is tasked with, and I am thankful to the jury for reaching the proper conclusion and holding the defendant accountable.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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