Former Salem daycare worker convicted of sex abuse

A former Salem daycare worker was found guilty Friday of raping and sexually abusing a 13-year-old Beaverton girl.

A Washington County jury found Jonathan Alexander Tyler, 21, of two counts of second-degree rape, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of online sexual corruption of a child and three counts of luring a minor following a four-day trial. 

His sentencing is scheduled for July 16. 

Tyler was arrested in September after the FBI and Beaverton Police Department were alerted to a concerning ad on social media involving two young girls offering prostitution services.

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Authorities were able to identify the girls as ages 13 and 15.

Through interviews with the girls, police identified Tyler as a suspect.

At the time, Tyler worked at a daycare, attended Chemeketa Community College and was employed by the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation. 

According to court records, Tyler, then 20, communicated with the 13-year-old via social media in April 2018. Despite knowing she was 13, he drove up twice to Beaverton to have sex with her and paid her $230, according to prosecutors. 

Beaverton police Detective Chad Opitz arranged for the 15-year-old girl to contact Tyler on social media. She told him she was 15 and he agreed to drive to Beaverton to have sex with her.

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On September 19, Tyler was arrested by undercover officers after he arrived to meet her. 

Investigators said he had condoms with him and claimed he was there to meet his friend. During his interview, he admitted to having sex with the 13-year-old on two occasions but claimed he thought both girls were 18. He later admitted he knew they were underage.

Tyler's attorney described the online and in-person encounters with the minors much differently. In a memorandum filed in June, attorney Cameron Taylor said Tyler met the 13-year-old on the social media dating app Grindr, where she claimed to be 18. After chatting, the girl admitted she was only "16, almost 17," according to the memorandum. 

Taylor said Tyler had consensual sex twice with her but never paid for anything.

Four months later, the FBI received a tip that two underage girls posted an ad for various sexual acts on the social media app Skout. 

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Investigators traced the ad back to the 13- and 15-year-old victims. According to the defense's memorandum, the 13-year-old said the other girl was her "pimp." She said she engaged in prostitution with seven men between the ages of 17 and 24, including Tyler, over a three-month period. 

The 15-year-old messaged Tyler on SnapChat and set up a meeting at a Beaverton gas station. Police met him instead. 

"When police advised Mr. Tyler that (his victim) was 13 years old, Mr. Tyler nearly threw up," Taylor said in the memorandum. 

Following his arrest, Tyler was fired by SKEF and indicted by a Washington County grand jury. He pleaded not guilty to all counts. 

Investigators believe he may have more victims. 

"Due to Mr. Tyler's work with youth, Beaverton Police detectives believe there may be more victims," police said in a press release.

They ask other victims to call Beaverton police at 503-629-0111.

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For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodwort@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-399-6884 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth