Police seek Forest Grove man in connection with rape of 11-year-old

by John Snell, The Oregonian

Friday July 17, 2009, 4:37 PM

Police are looking for a Forest Grove man they say repeatedly raped an 11-year-old girl over the past year.

Police have enough evidence to accuse Castro De Leon, 32, of five counts of first-degree rape and five counts of first-degree sex abuse, according to Capt. Aaron Ashbaugh, Forest Grove Police spokesman.

Ashbaugh said De Leon knew his victim and committed the sexual attacks over the course of a year. He added that physical force was not used.

Detectives think De Leon may know he is wanted and may be hiding to avoid arrest, Ashbaugh said. He added it was possible De Leon was heading to Guatemala.

De Leon was last seen at 5:30 p.m. Monday walking west from his place of employment at 20140 S.W. York St. in Beaverton. Ashbaugh said De Leon is a construction worker and has no vehicle.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts should call the Forest Grove Police Department at 503-992-3260.

-- John Snell; johnsnell@news.oregonian.com

The local evening news actually announced De Leon is illegally in the country and is likely heded back to his native Guatemala.

www.oregonlive.com