THE DALLES — A Wasco County jury has found Edwin Diaz II guilty on all counts including assault and criminal mistreatment, according to an announcement by Wasco County District Attorney Kara Davis.
On Dec. 11, a jury deliberated into the evening and just after 8 p.m. found Diaz, 30, guilty on all counts, including assault in the second degree, assault in the third degree, and criminal mistreatment.
The charges stemmed from two separate incidents in November 2022 where Diaz caused multiple, severe injuries to a non-verbal, autistic 6-year-old. Davis said that Diaz was in a relationship with the victim’s mother at the time of the crimes.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed a pattern of abuse, she said. In the first incident, Diaz claimed the girl was injured when a door fell on her while playing hide-and-go-seek; but the extent of her injuries was inconsistent with this explanation. Days later, following a violent argument between Diaz and the girl’s mother, the child was found to have suffered a broken femur.
“The victim is doing well and is a happy and healthy little girl,” said Davis. “Her mother showed incredible amounts of fortitude in facing the defendant and testifying during this trial.”
The district attorney’s office commended several whose help was critical to getting the conviction — Wasco County Sheriff’s Office and, particular, Detectives Williams and Hall; CARES NW for performing an assessment that was key to explaining the patterns of abuse to the jury; and the Wasco County jury for careful consideration regarding difficult facts.
Assault in the second degree is a Measure 11 crime, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 70 months in prison with no possibility for early release or reduction. Diaz has been taken into custody and will remain there until his sentencing, which is scheduled for Dec. 30, Davis said.
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