A five-year scheme allegedly carried out in busy retail areas ended with an arrest inside a Hillsboro Target, where police say a man posed as a student to gain access to unsuspecting victims’ feet.
HILLSBORO, OR – A 23-year-old man is facing dozens of charges after investigators say he spent years approaching women and minors at shopping centers under the guise of a “school project,” using the ruse to carry out acts tied to a sexual fetish. Cedric Valdez was arrested in January at a Target store, one of several locations police say he frequented while targeting victims.
According to the Hillsboro Police Department, Valdez approached women in “large retail stores, parking lots, and near storefronts in shopping centers,” claiming he was a reflexology student who needed help completing a project. Court records state the explanation was fabricated to gain physical access to victims’ feet.
Allegations span years and more than 100 victims
Prosecutors allege Valdez admitted the “project” was a cover story and told investigators he was “sexually attracted” to feet. Authorities say the scheme lasted roughly five years and involved more than 100 victims ranging in age from 14 to 47, including at least 13 minors.
Investigators say Valdez would often ask women if he could follow them to their cars, where he would remove their shoes and massage their feet. In multiple cases, prosecutors allege he smelled, kissed, or licked victims’ feet and recorded photos and videos that were later uploaded to pornography websites.
Court documents also state that Valdez told investigators he was sometimes accompanied by a juvenile during these encounters.
Charges filed and investigation ongoing
Valdez is currently facing 41 counts, including third-degree sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and practicing massage without a license. His bail was set at $10,000 last week, and court records show he remained in custody as of Friday. He is scheduled to stand trial in August.
Police say the investigation expanded as more victims came forward, but they believe additional individuals may not yet have reported their experiences.
“We want to thank the brave women who came forward to report the incidents to police,” the Hillsboro Police Department says. “Multiple victims have been identified in this case, but it is believed there are more who have not yet come forward.”
Authorities are urging anyone who may have encountered similar behavior in the Hillsboro area to contact law enforcement.
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