A 23-year-old Oregon man has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse after allegedly deceiving more than 100 women and minors by pretending to be a reflexology student conducting research for a school project.
Cedric Valdez was taken into custody at a Target store in Hillsboro, Oregon, in January following an investigation that revealed he had been approaching women at retail stores, parking lots, and shopping centers throughout the area. According to the Hillsboro Police Department, Valdez would tell potential victims he was working on a school project that required him to examine strangers’ feet.
Prosecutors say Valdez admitted to investigators that his claims about being a student were fabricated and that he was actually motivated by a sexual attraction to feet. Court documents indicate he confessed to carrying out this deceptive scheme for approximately five years.
The victims ranged in age from 14 to 47 years old, with at least 13 identified as minors. Valdez would allegedly approach women and ask if he could accompany them to their vehicles, where he would remove their shoes and begin massaging their feet. In numerous instances, prosecutors say he went beyond massage, allegedly smelling, kissing, and licking victims’ feet without their consent.
Investigators discovered that Valdez had documented many of these encounters, taking photographs and videos that he subsequently uploaded to pornography websites. Court records indicate that during many of these interactions, Valdez was accompanied by a juvenile.
The 23-year-old now faces 41 criminal counts, including third-degree sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and practicing massage without proper licensing. His bail was set at $10,000 last week, and court records indicate he remained in custody as of Friday.
The Hillsboro Police Department expressed gratitude to the women who reported the incidents, acknowledging the courage required to come forward. Law enforcement officials believe there may be additional victims who have not yet contacted authorities.
Valdez’s trial is scheduled to begin in August. The case has raised concerns about predatory behavior in public spaces and the vulnerability of shoppers, particularly minors, to individuals who use deceptive tactics to gain physical access to victims.
The investigation revealed that Valdez’s pattern of behavior was consistent across multiple locations, with his primary hunting grounds being large retail establishments and busy shopping centers where he could approach numerous potential victims. His arrest at Target marked the end of what prosecutors describe as a five-year period of systematic deception and abuse.
Authorities continue to investigate the full scope of Valdez’s activities and are working to identify any additional victims who may have encountered him during his years of operating this scheme.
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