AP-OR–2nd Right Now/1125
PHILOMATH FOOTBALL-HAZING
Coach, 6 Philomath football players, cited in hazing case
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say six Philomath (fil-OH-muhth) High School football players and a 22-year-old volunteer assistant face charges after freshmen were subjected to hazing during the team’s summer camp.
Benton County District Attorney John Haroldson says the hazing involved “offensive physical contact with intimate parts” during a July trip to Camp Rilea on Oregon’s northern coast.
The Corvallis Gazette-Times reports the assistant, Cooper Kikuta, has been charged in Clatsop County with misdemeanor criminal mistreatment. All the boys are charged with misdemeanor harassment and most are also accused of misdemeanor assault. Their cases will go through juvenile court.
Philomath School District superintendent Melissa Goff said in a statement the district condemns hazing and will take appropriate action.
The district earlier this month canceled the team’s first three games, citing an ongoing investigation into unspecified misconduct.
WORK-RELEASE KILLING
$30 million suit filed in Hillsboro work-release killing
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The family of a Portland woman killed by her ex-boyfriend while he was on work release from a Washington County halfway house has filed a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit against the facility and the county.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Eric Petersen is serving a life sentence for the 2014 death of 24-year-old Aimie Zdrantan, who was stabbed in her Hillsboro apartment.
The 26-year-old Peterson had been given a day pass from a minimum-security transitional facility when he violated a restraining order and went to the victim’s apartment.
The lawsuit alleges the halfway house’s lax policies contributed to Zdrantan’s death. It also blames staff for letting Petersen leave without any electronic monitoring.
The center has since eliminated 24-hour passes for inmates and added GPS tracking for certain offenders on release.
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STABBING-BORING
Clackamas County man claims self-defense in stabbing
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Clackamas County man is being investigated for assault after stabbing a man several times after an altercation.
The Oregonian/Oregon Live reports that Henry Childress of Boring, Oregon told deputies he stabbed 35-year-old Andrew Weitz in self-defense. He claims Weitz attacked him before he stabbed the man at least four times, including twice in the stomach.
Weitz had been taken to the Legacy Emanuel Medical Center after the Saturday incident. A spokeswoman at the Portland hospital said Tuesday she couldn’t release any information on the man’s condition.
Court records show a witness reported that the two men had gotten into a fight but the documents don’t specify what caused the altercation.
The 58-year-old Childress has been jailed on suspicion of assault and unlawful use of a weapon.
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RANCHING STANDOFF
Ryan Bundy can continue as own lawyer in Oregon refuge case
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge agreed to let Oregon standoff defendants Ryan Bundy and Kenneth Medenbach represent themselves at their upcoming trial, despite concerns they won’t follow court rulings in the presence of the jury.
U.S. District Judge Court Anna Brown threatened to take away their right to self-representation because they have repeatedly challenged the court’s jurisdiction. At a hearing Tuesday, she wanted them to promise they wouldn’t raise issues in front of a jury that have already been resolved.
Medenbach said he would follow the rules. Bundy was more hesitant, but eventually agreed.
The men are among eight people ready to stand trial on conspiracy charges related to this winter’s 41-day occupation of a national wildfire refuge.
Jury selection begins Sept. 7 and opening statements are tentatively slated for Sept. 13.
OREGON-PUBLIC LANDS BATTLE
Oregon county rejects bid for more local control of US lands
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (AP) — Elected officials in an Oregon county have rejected a plan by a group of residents that seeks greater local control over the management of federal lands.
The Crook County Commission voted 2-1 in a public meeting Tuesday to deny the natural resources plan but suggested supporters refine it and submit it to the planning commission.
Managers of federal lands in this county 2½ times the size of Rhode Island told the packed meeting room that the plan would create an “adversarial relationship.” About half the county’s land mass is managed by the government.
Supporters say the measure would force federal agencies to coordinate with local officials on management of timber, minerals and other resources.
SOLAR FORGERY
Solar project consultant charged with fraud in Oregon
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An energy consultant involved with an Oregon solar power project has been indicted on forgery charges.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that Martin Shain, the lead consultant on the state’s $24 million “Solar by Degree” project, was indicted on two forgery counts on Thursday. Prosecutors say he created a fake invoice from a fictional subcontractor to help secure nearly $12 million in tax credits from the Oregon Department of Energy.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Energy Department head Michael Kaplan requested an investigation after the Oregonian/OregonLive raised questions about the project’s management and funding.
Shain’s lawyer, Jim McDermott, says the invoice was made up but argues that someone else on the project gave the document to his client. McDermott says he expects Shain to be acquitted by a jury.
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LOST HUNTER-FOUND
Missing bow hunter found safe in Wheeler County
FOSSIL, Ore. (AP) — A 75-year-old hunter missing in the Ochoco National Forest has been found safe.
The Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office announced the news Tuesday, saying the man walked out of the woods and made it to a ranch.
The bow hunter had been missing since Sunday. His name has yet to be released, but the sheriff’s office said he’s from Bend.
HOTEL INSPECTIONS
Eugene-area hotels up for inspection in wake of deadly fire
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — In the wake of a fire at a motel that killed four people, some 50 hotels and motels in the Eugene-Springfield area are up for inspection this week.
The Register-Guard reports that fire marshals will check for smoke alarms, sprinklers and emergency vehicle access, among other things, at the metro area’s entire roster of motels and hotels.
The push comes after a fire at the Newport City Center Motel killed four people, including a Springfield couple.
According to the Eugene-Springfield Fire Marshal’s Office, there were 215 hotel fires between 2010 and 2015 in Oregon, causing $48 million in damage and injuring 15 people.
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Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
