Survivors Demand Justice After Decades

Bend News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jun 28, 2026 · 1m

A man already serving time for a violent crime is facing new charges for sexually abusing two young girls — now adults — who were as young as six when the abuse occurred. He’s agreed to plead guilty to two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, with nine other charges dropped, and the deal is set to finalize July 1. The survivors, who endured trauma that led to addiction and years of legal delays, including a mistrial in 2022, are demanding accountability and closure. One survivor wants to confront him and his family in court. Though Mendoza-Melo’s prior conviction — for attempting to murder a…