HPD arrests man for sex crimes

By Terry Murry on Tuesday, May 21st, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

HERMISTON – Officers from the Hermiston Police Department have arrested a man for sex crimes. Police Chief Jason Edmiston says his department received the initial report on Thursday and the suspect was taken into custody less than 15 hours later.

Jonah Cadel Howard, 28, is charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, and first-degree kidnapping. Edmiston says it was not a stranger-on-stranger attack.

He said that Howard appears to be fairly new to the Hermiston area. The victim has moved away from Hermiston. The arrest occurred Friday at about 4:25 p.m. at 225 SW Sixth St. in Hermiston. Preliminary bail is set at $200,000.

The three charges against him are Measure 11 crimes, with a required minimum sentence of up to 25 years each if he is found guilty.