Prosecutors said the 19-year-old met victims on social media and dating apps and attacked them in secluded spots.
PORTLAND, Ore. — A Multnomah County judge on Thursday sentenced 19-year-old Damani Anderson to 45 years in prison for raping multiple women and girls at gunpoint after arranging meetings online, concluding a case that drew on testimony from survivors as young as 13.
Officials said Anderson pleaded guilty last week to a dozen charges tied to assaults that stretched from early 2023 into 2024. Investigators said he contacted victims through social media and dating apps, then steered them to isolated locations where he used threats and, in several cases, a loaded handgun. Prosecutors argued the sentence reflects a pattern of escalating violence and the harm inflicted on five girls and young women. The judge also ordered 20 years of post-prison supervision and lifetime sex offender registration, according to the courtroom summary.
Anderson was arrested in August 2024 after Portland police linked reports with similar details, including online contact and a secluded meeting point. In court Thursday, Deputy District Attorney Robin Skarstad said the attacks were “very real, very terrifying things” done to “very young people.” Skarstad said Anderson often threatened victims with a loaded gun during the assaults. Families filled the gallery as several survivors described ongoing trauma and the fear that followed them to school, work and home. One mother told the court the pain “will move into every relationship we will ever have,” a statement that drew quiet nods across the room as the judge prepared to rule.
Charging records show Anderson originally faced more than 40 counts before entering guilty pleas to 12 offenses. Prosecutors said at least five victims were identified, including a 13-year-old. Four victims reported a gun was used to force compliance. Police said the meetings typically began on mainstream platforms, where Anderson used different profiles and messages to arrange encounters. Investigators said digital evidence, survivor statements and patterns in the locations helped connect the cases. The district attorney’s office praised the women and girls who came forward, saying their accounts were central to building the case. Officials did not release the platforms or handles used, citing privacy and the age of some victims. How Anderson obtained the firearm remains under investigation, authorities said.
The case unfolded as Portland police dealt with an uptick in reports of technology-facilitated assaults, a trend local advocates say tracks with national data. Court filings outline incidents in North and Northeast Portland beginning in February 2023, with later assaults tied to parks, apartment complexes and parking areas away from heavy foot traffic. The August 2024 arrest followed a report that matched earlier descriptions, according to investigative notes summarized in court. Prior hearings were delayed while authorities cross-checked additional complaints and phone records. Prosecutors said Anderson had no prior adult felony convictions but argued his actions showed planning, repetition and an escalating willingness to use a gun.
With sentencing now complete, Anderson will serve the 45-year prison term followed by 20 years of post-prison supervision. He must register as a sex offender upon release. Prosecutors said no further charges are pending in this case but noted that investigators remain open to new reports. Any restitution amounts will be handled in follow-up orders. The court clerk said certified copies of the judgment will be available next week. No sentencing appeal was filed Thursday; a defense notice could still be submitted within the statutory window.
Outside the courtroom, Skarstad said the survivors’ cooperation made the difference. “This was an individual who was on a path of reoffending,” she said, adding that community safety improved because victims came forward at “great personal cost.” Family members exchanged brief hugs in the hallway while victim advocates guided them to an elevator lobby cordoned off for privacy. Defense counsel left without speaking to reporters. A uniformed deputy remained near the door as the judge recessed for the day.
The sentence took effect immediately after the hearing ended Thursday afternoon. The district attorney’s office said it will issue a formal summary of the case and the judgment next week.
Author note: Last updated January 30, 2026.