Umatilla County man sentenced to over 20 years for child sex abuse in Columbia County

DAYTON, Washington — A Umatilla County man was sentenced Wednesday in Columbia County Superior Court to more than 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to child sex abuse charges.

Vasilios “Billy” Tziouvaras, 38, entered guilty pleas to second-degree rape of a child and first-degree incest. Judge Thomas Cox immediately sentenced Tziouvaras to 245 months in prison.

The charges stem from an investigation that began April 9, when the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported sex offense involving a child. Deputies developed probable cause and executed a search warrant before arresting Tziouvaras without incident the following day. He had been held in the Walla Walla County Jail prior to sentencing.

Columbia County Prosecutor Nickolas Ward explained Tziouvaras moved from Umatilla County to Dayton in November 2025 and called the matter “one of the most heinous cases” of his career, adding that the 20-year term reflects the severity of the crimes and offers accountability for the harm inflicted on the victim.

During the hearing, members of the victim’s family delivered emotional impact statements describing the profound and lasting toll the abuse has taken on their lives.

Columbia County Sheriff Joe Helm commended his deputies and local prosecutors for their work on the case, reiterating the department’s commitment to aggressively investigating crimes against children. Helm also praised the courage of the victim’s family for coming forward to report the abuse.

File photo of the Columbia County Courthouse

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Elkhorn Media Group