Bend sex assault suspect on trial takes plea deal, gets eight years

A Bend man initially accused of abducting and raping a former girlfriend last year, holding her against her will in her home, took a plea deal in mid-trial last week and was sentenced to more than eight years in prison, Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel said Monday.

In the second week of his trial, Brett Allen Vanscoy, now 32, “gave up the fight” and pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, first-degree burglary, interference with making a police report and second-degree sexual abuse, the DA said in a news release.

The crimes occurred between January and April of last year.

The 35-year-old victim had gone to police to report being a victim of domestic violence. She had applied for a restraining order against Vanscoy, but it had not been served to him, police said.

Vanscoy was arrested on initial charges that included first-degree rape, kidnapping, strangulation, harassment, menacing and felon in possession of a firearm. He was indicted and went to trial on the rape and several other charges.

Vanscoy accepted the state’s plea offer at the end of the second week, just before the prosecution rested its case, the DA said.

The investigation revealed Vanscoy “was obsessed with the victim,” Hummel said in a news release.

“After she obtained a restraining order, he broke into her house because he believed she was cheating,” he said, adding that Vanscoy “also claimed he suffered from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and that he had been a sniper in the Army and was deployed to Iraq.”

“Thanks to the investigation by law enforcement, the state was able to confirm the defendant not only was never a sniper, but he had never been deployed,” Hummel said.

Vanscoy was sentenced to 100 months (8.3 years) in prison. After his release, he is required to have no contact with the victim or her family, register as a sex offender, and complete domestic violence treatment and mental health treatment.

Hummel said, “Deputy District Attorney Kari Hathorn and the Bend Police Officers assigned to this case performed a top-notch investigation and prosecution of Vanscoy.”

“And the victim advocates in the District Attorney’s Victims’ Assistance Program supported the victim throughout this case, as she valiantly struggled to overcome her fear of the defendant,” he added.

“With the support of loved ones and her victim advocates, she was able to face Mr. Vanscoy in court and tell the judge and jury the details of the crimes he committed against her,” the DA said.