Man wanted in connection with sex crimes booked in Oregon

A man wanted in connection with multiple sex crimes, and who investigators think may have victims in Vancouver, was booked into an Oregon jail Tuesday after he was located in China and returned to the United States.

According to the Washington County, Ore., Sheriff’s Office, detectives started investigating in June 2016 reports that Toby A. Mendenhall, now 41, sexually abused multiple children in Washington County.

An arrest warrant was issued for Mendenhall in December, on suspicion of two counts of first-degree sodomy and eight counts of first-degree sexual abuse.

Mendenhall fled to China, the sheriff’s office said. The sheriff’s office then requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, which found Mendenhall in Shanghai.

Marshals worked with Chinese authorities to find Mendenhall and return him to the U.S.

On Tuesday, he was booked into the Washington County Jail on $2.5 million bail.

The sheriff’s office said investigators think there may be additional victims. Mendenhall has lived in multiple areas around the Portland area, including Vancouver.

The sheriff’s office asked anyone with helpful information on Mendenhall and his interactions with children to contact detectives at 503-846-2500.