Former Portland Basketball Star Sentenced to 20 Years for Sex Crimes Against Four Women in Series of Attacks

A former star high school basketball player, 33-year-old Mitchell Beckwith of Portland, has been convicted of first-degree rape and other sex crimes involving four women in the Multnomah County Circuit Court.

Beckwith was sentenced to 20 years in state prison when he appeared before Judge Christopher Marshall on 19 March.

According to court records, Beckwith was arrested in November 2019 for the rape of a woman he met via a dating app. The crime took place at Rocky Butte in Northeast Portland while they were on a first date.

The Crimes Took Place Between 2017 and 2019

He had been accused of similar crimes against three other women between November 2017 and July 2019.

Prosecutors stated that one woman was raped after he offered her a lift to a birthday party, and the other incidents occurred when he invaded a hotel room and an apartment. The crimes took place in Gresham and Portland.

Although DNA evidence was collected, no charges were filed until his arrest outside the home of the fourth victim.

Beckwith, who had previously faked a mental illness at the Oregon State Hospital, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree rape, three counts of attempted rape, and one count of attempted kidnapping.

The victims were not called to give evidence but could watch the proceedings remotely.