A Valdosta pastor has been indicted in Oregon for allegedly sexually assaulting three women in 2012, 2016 and 2018, according to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.
Helio Ferreira, 41, was arrested Dec. 3 by law enforcement with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and Portland Police Bureau. The assaults reportedly happened in Multnomah County, which is an area that includes Portland, Oregon.
On Tuesday, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced a grand jury filed a nine-count indictment against Ferreira for the alleged sex crimes, according to a news release from Underhill’s office.
Ferreira is charged with two counts of sodomy in the first degree, two counts of kidnapping in the first degree, three counts of rape in the first degree, one count of sexual abuse in the first degree, and one count of identity theft.
According to the indictment:
- On or about Nov. 17, 2012, Ferreira allegedly unlawfully and knowingly engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim who was incapable of consent either because of mental incapacitation or physical helplessness;
- On or about Sept. 18, 2016, Ferreira allegedly kidnapped a separate female and then unlawfully and knowingly, by forcible compulsion, engaged in sexual intercourse and other sex crimes;
- On or about Sept. 7, 2018, Ferreira allegedly kidnapped a third female and then unlawfully and knowingly, by forcible compulsion, engaged in sexual intercourse and committed the crime of identity theft involving the victim.
Ferreira served as the senior pastor at Grace Fellowship Seventh Day Adventist Church, according to the church's Facebook page. He remains in the custody of the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office until his upcoming court date in Lowndes County.
Anyone with information about Ferreira is asked to contact Portland Police Bureau Detective Ross Dormady at 503-823-0880.
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