2 days ago
Local volunteer accused of raping, blackmailing teen girl
PORTLAND, Ore. () — A Hillsboro man is facing dozens of criminal charges after he was accused of sexually abusing a child on multiple occasions. According to authorities, he may have had more victims.
Seth Michael Winkelhake, 40, is accused of rape and other charges related to child sex abuse. He allegedly came in contact with a 13-year-old girl he met online in 2018, then sexually assaulted her after meeting up with her in person, over the course of multiple years, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office said in a press release.
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'In January 2025, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office received reports from an outside agency of multiple sexual assaults involving the same suspect that had taken place in Clackamas County over a period of four years,' the sheriff's office said. 'The victim reported when she was 13 a person who claimed to be much younger than they really were and calling himself 'Jeff' began chatting online with her. This person convinced the victim to send explicit photos of herself and then used them to blackmail her into maintaining an online relationship.'
Winkelhake allegedly convinced the victim to meet up in person, beginning in 2021.
'The suspect would meet the victim in a public place wearing a ski mask or cloth face covering to conceal his identity. He would sometimes blindfold her before putting her in his car. He would then drive her to local parks in the Oak Grove area where he would then physically and sexually assault her,' the sheriff's office said.
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The assaults allegedly happened multiple times from 2021 to 2024, despite the victim trying to stop continued contact with the suspect, authorities said.
On Tuesday, Winklehake was taken into custody without incident after detectives with the sheriff's office, the Hillsboro Police Department and the FBI executed a search warrant of his home in the 500 block of SE 7th Ave.
Investigators believe Winkelhake may have additional victims. He is described as 6'3″, 200 lbs, with red hair and blue eyes, uses names like 'Jeff,' 'Done Jon,' and 'Marc,' and uses social media apps like AntiLad, Facebook and Instagram. He has been associated with two cars, a white 2019 Nissan Frontier and black 2002 Volkswagen Golf.
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Winkelhake has also volunteered with local educational groups in and around the Portland area, including Fernhill in Forest Grove, Friends of the Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge and Tualatin Hills Nature Center, authorities said.
Winkelhake is facing 23 felony and misdemeanor charges, including first-degree rape, third-degree sex abuse, first-degree encouraging child sex abuse and luring a minor.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.
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