Vincent Charles Roberts II Guilty in Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals Burglary Case

Posted August 13, 2026

HILLSBORO, Ore- On August 7, 2026, a Washington County jury found Vincent Charles Roberts II guilty of burglary in the second degree, aggravated theft in the first degree, theft in the first degree, and criminal mischief in the first degree. Deputy District Attorney Christina Luedtke prosecuted this case before Judge Kathleen Proctor.

On December 24, 2023, the defendant broke into the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals in Hillsboro, Oregon. He then used a sledgehammer to smash museum display cases and stole nearly all of the gold from an exhibit.

Washington County Sheriff's Office detectives launched an investigation. They learned that the defendant traveled to Salem and Woodburn in an attempt to sell the items to pawn shops. Shop owners recognized the stolen items from an earlier media release issued by the sheriff's office and alerted law enforcement. Additionally, the suspect's DNA was found at the scene. Mr. Roberts also had interactions with officers regarding unrelated incidents and was in possession of gold pieces belonging to the museum and materials needed to melt gold.

The Washington County District Attorney's Office commends the work of the Washington County Sheriff's Office on this case. This office also wishes to acknowledge the shop owners for reporting the defendant.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 26, 2026.

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