Multnomah County, OR. — A 19-year-old Portland man has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for a series of violent sexual assaults that targeted five girls and young women over an 18-month period.
Judge Benjamin Souede handed down the sentence Thursday in Multnomah County Circuit Court after Damani Jazz Anderson previously pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges, including rape, kidnapping, and weapons offenses.
Prosecutors said four of the attacks were carried out at gunpoint and occurred between February 2023 and August 2024, beginning when Anderson was 16 years old and continuing after he turned 18.
According to court records, the first assault occurred in February 2023 during an abusive relationship with a 17-year-old girl. Prosecutors said Anderson restrained and raped her when she went to retrieve personal belongings.
In January 2024, Anderson targeted a 13-year-old middle school student he met on Snapchat, luring her to a park near her school. Prosecutors said he threatened her with a gun, took explicit photos, and repeatedly assaulted her while threatening to kill her if she reported the crime.
Additional assaults occurred in June 2024 involving a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, both of whom reported being threatened with a firearm. One attack was interrupted by bystanders, allowing the victim to escape.
The final assault occurred in August 2024, when Anderson allegedly met an 18-year-old woman through Tinder and assaulted her near railroad tracks in North Portland. She escaped and sought help from nearby homes, leading to police involvement.
Following sentencing, Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Robin Skarstad praised the courage of the victims.
“Our community is so grateful for the strength and sacrifice of these five young survivors, who have saved others from harm at the hands of this sexual predator,” Skarstad said.
Court records show Anderson used online platforms to identify and lure victims to secluded locations, where he threatened them with a firearm and subjected them to sexual violence. In several cases, victims were able to escape and seek help, leading to the investigation that ultimately resulted in his arrest and prosecution.
The 45-year prison sentence concludes the criminal case and ensures Anderson will be incarcerated for decades, removing what prosecutors described as a continuing threat to public safety.
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