The man who stole a van while a 9-month-old child was inside the vehicle back in July was found guilty of kidnapping.
On September 30, a Washington County jury found 25-year-old Marcus Esa Paul guilty of all charges following a four-day trial.
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Paul was convicted of kidnapping in the second degree, three counts of criminal mistreatment in the first degree, and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
On Wednesday, July 27, a man was picking up a dog at Oregon Dog Rescue on SW Nyberg Road in Tualatin when Mr. Paul jumped inside a minivan and drove away.
A 9-month-old child was inside the van. Police say Paul sped away, eventually getting on to I-205. He exited the freeway in Oregon City and looked for a place to leave the child.
Paul found a remote section of a residential area and abandoned the baby on the ground behind a guardrail, near the edge of a steep slope.
Paul got back on the freeway, going north on I-205. Police were able to track him using cell phone technology.
The minivan was left at a location off of NE Prescot in Portland, a location known by police for stolen car transactions.
Police say Paul fled on foot across the rush hour traffic on I-205 and attempted to hide under several bags of another person's belongings on the Parkrose MAX platform.
He was soon caught by Portland and Tualatin Police officers.
The baby was found by a citizen out walking her dog in Oregon City. The baby was not injured.
The investigation was a collaboration between the Tualatin Police Department, the Portland Police Bureau, and the Oregon City Police Department.
The Washington County District Attorney’s office would like to acknowledge the excellent work by all agencies.