OREGON CITY, Ore. (KPTV) — A 31-year-old Molalla man has been sentenced to nearly a decade behind bars after being convicted in three separate criminal cases involving robbery, vehicle theft, a hit-and-run crash, and identity theft, the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.
Pattern of Crimes Across Two Years
The defendant, Alex James Raphun, faced charges stemming from incidents that occurred across 2022 and 2023 in multiple parts of Clackamas County. Prosecutors described Raphun’s actions as part of an escalating pattern of reckless and opportunistic crimes.
The combined sentences from his convictions will keep him in prison for approximately nine and a half years.
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June 2022: Hit-and-Run and Stolen Checks
The first case dates back to June 2022, when Raphun sideswiped two parked cars in Milwaukie, injuring one person. A witness urged him to call 911, but instead, Raphun walked away from the scene.
When officers located him shortly after, they searched his backpack and discovered stolen property, including:
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Checks made out to other individuals,
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Blank checks that had been reported stolen,
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A pawn slip and debit card belonging to someone else.
Police said the evidence suggested Raphun was involved in ongoing identity theft and property crimes at the time of the crash.
March 2023: Stolen Vehicle and Identity Theft
Less than a year later, in March 2023, Raphun was spotted by a Clackamas County deputy driving a stolen car. When the officer attempted to stop him, Raphun fled, leading police on a brief pursuit along Interstate 205 before abandoning the vehicle and attempting to escape on foot.
He was quickly apprehended, and officers once again found identification documents and personal property belonging to other people in his possession.
A jury later convicted him of identity theft, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and reckless driving in connection with that case. He was sentenced to 43 months in prison earlier this year.
May 2023: Armed Robbery at Happy Valley Deli
Raphun’s most serious charges came from a May 2023 armed robbery in Happy Valley. Prosecutors said he entered a local deli and demanded cash, threatening an employee with what appeared to be a handgun — later determined to be a toy gun.
He stole $450 in cash, a woman’s purse, and fled the scene on a scooter. Police arrested him shortly after the robbery.
On Friday, Raphun pleaded guilty to the robbery and related charges, receiving a 70-month prison sentence for that case.
Combined Sentences
Altogether, Raphun was sentenced to:
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43 months for the March 2023 stolen car and identity theft case,
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70 months for the May 2023 armed robbery,
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30 months for the June 2022 hit-and-run and stolen property case, which will run concurrently with the other sentences.
His total time in custody will amount to just under 10 years in the Oregon Department of Corrections.
DA’s Office Commends Law Enforcement
The Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office praised local police departments for their collaboration in handling the multiple investigations and ensuring accountability.
“Mr. Raphun’s actions endangered the public and demonstrated a disregard for the law,” prosecutors said in a statement. “This sentence ensures he will no longer pose a threat to the community for many years.”
Raphun will remain in state custody pending transfer to prison.
