Cold Case Arrest, June 17

News release Newport PD. In April 1997, Newport Police Officers investigated a report that an 11 year-old female, and a 13 year-old female, had been sexually assaulted by Eric Francisco DeCleve, age 24 of Newport. During the investigation, it was learned that DeCleve had provided controlled substances to the two minors, and then assaulted them. DeCleve confessed to having sexually assaulted both minors. He was arrested on May 2, 1997 on two counts of Rape in the First Degree, two counts of Rape in the Second Degree, Delivery of a Controlled Substance to a Minor First and Second Degree, and Attempted Sodomy First Degree. He was lodged at the Lincoln County Jail. Shortly after his arrest, DeCleve posted bail and was released from jail. He then fled the country to avoid prosecution. After missing his arraignment in Lincoln County Circuit Court, a Full Extradition warrant was issued for DeCleve’s arrest. In 2004, NPD received information from U.S. Immigration that DeCleve may be living in Mexico near the U.S. border. DeCleve could not be located at that time. In February 2016, while reviewing cold case DNA files, Newport Police Detectives determined DeCleve had never been arrested on the outstanding charges. Newport Police worked closely with the FBI to locate DeCleve, who was now living and working in Cancun, Mexico. The investigation determined DeCleve was working as a surfing instructor in Cancun, Mexico, living under the name Eric Victor Munhoven Navarro. The FBI worked with Mexican officials to capture and extradite DeCleve to the United States to stand trial. On June 10, 2016 the Newport Police and FBI received word that DeCleve, now age 43, had been flown to San Francisco where he was arrested and held at the San Mateo County Jail. On June 15, 2016 a Newport Police Detective and an FBI Special Agent flew to San Francisco to take custody of DeCleve. He was transported from San Francisco to Portland by plane, then from Portland to the Lincoln County Jail. He was lodged on the following Warrant charges: two counts Rape 1st Degree; Sexual Penetration 1st Degree; four counts Delivery of Controlled Substance to a Minor; Rape 2nd Degree; two counts Sexual Abuse 1st Degree; Sodomy 1st Degree. His bail was set at $250,000, but later increased to $3 million.