PORTLAND, Ore. — The man accused of kidnapping and sexually abusing a woman with developmental disabilities in September was arraigned Wednesday in Multnomah County.
According to the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office, 68-year-old Robert Bryant's charges include first-degree kidnapping, second-degree kidnapping, coercion, unlawful use of a weapon, second-degree attempted assault, public indecency and three counts of first-degree sexual abuse.
Portland police arrested Bryant on Sept. 16 after a woman who lived at a group home for vulnerable adults in Southeast Portland allegedly got into his white Dodge truck. The woman, police said, is intellectually disabled and functions at the level of a 5-year-old child.
Police were able to find the woman around 20 minutes later after requesting an emergency "ping" of her phone. The woman told officers that the man "touched her" and gave her money; later, at a hospital, she described the man sexually abusing her.
About an hour later, officers located the truck and arrested Bryant, who told detectives that he thought the woman was in a domestic dispute and he was trying to help her get away, court documents said.
Bryant was released from jail pending future court proceedings, despite a motion filed by the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office that requested the judge keep him in jail. The motion claimed Bryant had the potential to commit a similar crime again; Bryant had also been charged with prostitution in 1995, though the case was dismissed.
Multiple neighbors and the victim’s group home manager also expressed concern about Bryant's release.
Resources
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault and needs support, help is available. You can contact the Sexual Assault Resource Center at 503-626-9100. They are located at 4900 Southwest Griffith Drive, Suite 135, in Beaverton. The Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN) National Sexual Assault Hotline can be reached at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or rainn.org. It is available 24/7.
The Multnomah County Victims’ Assistance Program provides support during the reporting of sexual assaults and referrals to victim services and resources. They can be reached at 503-988-3222.
Call to Safety provides access to advocacy services, including confidential peer support, information and referrals to community resources. The 24-hour crisis line is 503-235-5333 or 1-888-235-5333.
Project UNICA/Proyecto UNICA provides access to advocacy services for Spanish-speaking survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Its 24-hour crisis line is 503-232-4448 or 1-888-232-4448.
