Former Oregon Department of Human Services Employee Pleads Guilty to Violating Civil Rights of a Developmentally Disabled Woman in His Care

PORTLAND, Ore.—A former Oregon Department of Human Services employee pleaded guilty today in federal court to violating the civil rights of a woman with developmental disabilities in his care by engaging in sexual misconduct with her.

Zakary Glover, 30, of Lebanon, Oregon, pleaded guilty to one count of depriving the victim of her constitutional right to bodily integrity under color of law involving attempted aggravated sexual abuse.

“Using a position of trust and authority to violate the civil rights of another person is a serious federal crime and will never be tolerated by the Department of Justice. We thank our partners at the FBI, Oregon State Police, and Civil Rights Division for their commitment to seeking justice in this case,” said Natalie Wight, U.S Attorney for the District of Oregon. 

“This defendant engaged in sexual misconduct with a woman entrusted to his care who was suffering from significant cognitive impairments,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will pursue and prosecute government officials who abuse their power by sexually exploiting people under their care and custody, and we will do our utmost to vindicate the rights of survivors of sexual violence.”

“There is an expectation that public servants will act with care, compassion, and respect, especially when responsible for some of our most vulnerable community members,” said Matt Schlegel, Acting Special Agent in Charge, of the FBI Portland Field Office. “The FBI, its Law Enforcement Partners, and the United States Attorney’s Office will continue to vigorously pursue any individual who violates that trust and hold them accountable for their heinous actions.”

According to the court documents, Glover served as a Direct Support Crisis Specialist for the Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Developmental Disabilities Stabilization and Crisis Unit (SACU). SACU operates several 24-hour crisis residential programs in Oregon that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a SACU employee, Glover was tasked with ensuring the health, safety and security of the individuals who lived at the residential facility where he worked.

The victim, who has severe autism and cognitive deficits, was one of the individuals under Glover’s care. As part of his duties, Glover took the victim on outings in a state-owned van. The van used for such outings was purposely secured with child locks and a heavy plastic partition between the front and rear seats so that individuals like Glover’s victim cannot get out.

On November 2, 2021, while on an outing with the victim, Glover drove down a dead-end road near a cemetery in Aumsville, Oregon. Upon reaching the dead-end, he parked the van near the cemetery’s gate and proceeded to engage in sexual acts with the victim without her consent. 

On February 18, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Glover with depriving the victim of her constitutional right to bodily integrity under color of law involving attempted aggravated sexual abuse and kidnapping.

Glover will be sentenced on April 30, 2024, by U.S. District Court Judge Marco A. Hernández. He faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the FBI Portland Field Office with assistance from Oregon State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gavin Bruce of the District of Oregon and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.