Police seek additional victims of Salem man charged with sex abuse of girls
Salem police are looking for additional victims of a Salem man who’s been charged with sex crimes involving three girls between ages 12 and 17.
The man, Damien M. Arellano, 19 of Salem, was arrested in Los Angeles in early March after fleeing Oregon sometime earlier this year, a Wednesday news release from the Salem Police Department said.
On Feb. 20, a Marion County grand jury indicted Arellano on two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree unlawful penetration and second-degree rape, the release said. His crimes involved three Salem girls, two 12-year-olds and one 17-year-old.
More information about the charges against Arellano was not immediately available because the state’s online court records system has been down since Tuesday.
Salem police started investigating Arellano in January, but Arellano soon fled to California, according to the release. The release included no additional information about the investigation’s development or grand jury findings.
A U.S. Marshals Service task force located him in Los Angeles and took him into custody March 3 without incident, the release said.
Arellano was extradited to Oregon and is in custody at the Marion County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in court Friday, according to the county jail roster.
Detectives suspect Arellano might have committed similar crimes against more minors in the Salem area. People with information on Arellano are encouraged to reach out to Special Victims Unit Detective Sabrina Hunter at 503-540-2443.
CORRECTION: This story was updated after the Salem Police Department corrected the victim’s ages in the initial news release.
Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected].
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Madeleine Moore came to Salem after graduating from the University of Oregon in June 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She covers addiction and recovery, transportation and infrastructure.
