HILLSBORO, Ore. — A Washington County judge has sentenced a 41-year-old man to life in prison under Oregon’s repeat felony sex offender statute following his conviction for public indecency and a guilty plea to theft charges.
On May 7, 2026, Washington County Circuit Court Judge Theodore Sims imposed what prosecutors described as a “true-life” sentence on Joshua Cory Nealy. Senior Deputy District Attorney Nadya Martin prosecuted the case.
According to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, Nealy has an extensive criminal history spanning more than two decades, including 166 arrests dating back to 1999. Court records show those arrests resulted in seven felony convictions and 48 misdemeanor convictions involving crimes such as attempted rape in the first degree, sexual abuse in the third degree, robbery in the third degree, and multiple assaults.
Prosecutors said Nealy qualified for a presumptive life sentence under Oregon Revised Statute 137.719, which mandates life imprisonment for offenders convicted of felony sex crimes who have at least two prior felony sex crime sentences.
The charges stem from an incident at Washington Square Mall in January 2023 while Nealy was on parole.
Investigators said Nealy entered a clothing store and concealed a pair of sunglasses before selecting clothing items and requesting access to a dressing room from a female employee. Once inside, prosecutors said Nealy removed his clothes, partially opened the dressing room door, and asked the employee for assistance.
When the employee approached, Nealy allegedly opened the door completely, exposing himself to her. Prosecutors said he then asked the employee if she wanted to have sex and invited her into the dressing room.
A store security officer responded to the scene and ordered Nealy to leave the store. Authorities said Nealy also exposed himself to the security officer before getting dressed and leaving the store with the stolen sunglasses.
Officers with the Tigard Police Department responded and arrested Nealy shortly afterward.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commended the police department, along with store employees and security staff, for their assistance during the investigation and prosecution of the case.
Nealy will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to serve his sentence.
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