Sex offender changes name, rejoins gym where crime occurred

HILLSBORO, Ore. – Police are investigating a report that a registered sex offender who pleaded guilty to attempted sex abuse at a 24 Hour Fitness gym changed his name and was back at that same gym this week.

Tyler Lupoli pleaded guilty to attempted sex abuse in 2006 for inappropriate contact with children in the facility’s day care center. He was banned from the gym and ordered to register as a sex offender.

Bryan Howarth, who knew Lupoli from high school and also is member of the gym, spotted him there last week. Howarth knew Lupoli wasn’t supposed to be there.

“My initial reaction was ‘that, that can’t be Tyler,’” said Howarth. “I don’t know what kind of person thinks to go back to a place where a major crime was committed and altered their life.”

The gym manager reviewed surveillance video and called Hillsboro Police.

Lupoli legally changed his name to Tyler Miller last fall. The name change helped him get a new membership to the same gym, and avoid the ban.

Matt and Janet Nees, who are the parents of one of the victims, say their biggest concern was that Tyler Miller would re-offend.

“There was nobody who thought he wouldn’t. We all knew he would,” said Janet Nees. “And this just kind of goes to show that he’s back in that direction. He’s going back there.”

“I do want to say I’m very, very glad that a community member stepped up and said ‘I know this person and they shouldn’t be there,’” said Matt Nees.

Police did not immediately take Tyler Miller into custody because they said he did not violate his parole. But by Monday, Jan. 9, they determined he had. The Washington County parole department issued a detainer and he was arrested after he turned himself in at the Hillsboro police station at about 5:30 p.m.

He is now in the Washington County Jail.

Howarth says he has 2 kids of his own and he would expect anyone to speak up for their safety.

“If you’re in a situation and you notice something that is suspicious you need to go ahead and follow through on it because it really doesn’t take much,” said Howarth.

“Go ahead and say something and see what comes of it.”