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Inset: Cedric Valdez (Hillsboro Police Department). Background: The Target in Hillsboro, Ore., where cops say Cedric Valdez was caught and arrested for his “school project” scheme (Google Maps).
A 23-year-old man from Oregon has been charged with orchestrating a deceptive scheme that allegedly targeted over 100 individuals, including minors, under the guise of being a “reflexology student” needing assistance with a “school project,” according to police reports.
Cedric Valdez is accused by the Hillsboro Police Department of approaching women in various locations such as large retail stores, parking lots, and shopping center storefronts with the intention of gaining access to their feet. These details were outlined in an official press release issued by the department.
Court documents reviewed by local NBC affiliate KGW reveal that Valdez allegedly posed as a student conducting a reflexology project, claiming it required him to meet strangers and examine their feet. However, authorities assert that this ruse was merely a cover for his foot fetish.
The legal documents indicate that Valdez confessed to law enforcement he was “sexually attracted” to feet and fabricated the school project story to facilitate access to numerous victims. Prosecutors allege his scheme spanned five years and ensnared more than 100 victims aged between 14 and 47.
During this period, Valdez is accused of engaging in inappropriate conduct with the victims’ feet, including massaging, smelling, kissing, and even licking them. He reportedly requested to accompany his victims to their cars, where he proceeded to remove their shoes and massage their feet. Furthermore, he allegedly captured photos and videos of these encounters, which he subsequently uploaded to adult websites, according to the prosecution.
Valdez allegedly told investigators that for many of the interactions he was accompanied by a juvenile. Court records viewed by Law&Crime show that Valdez is facing 41 counts of third-degree sexual abuse, sexual harassment and practicing massage without a license.
“We want to thank the brave women who came forward to report the incidents to police,” the Hillsboro Police Department says. “Multiple victims have been identified in this case, but it is believed there are more who have not yet come forward.”
At least 13 of Valdez’s alleged victims are said to be minors. Police say he was arrested at one of his foot-hunting grounds, Target, in January and his bail was set last week at $10,000. Court records show that he was still locked up as of Friday and is scheduled to go on trial in August.