January 5, 2024 The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office (MCDA) today published transcripts of the grand jury proceedings in the death investigation of PoniaX Kane Calles. Upon the grand jury’s return of a “not true bill” in this matter, MCDA filed a motion with the presiding court to create and release a transcript of the […]
Suspect Arrested Today January 5, 2024 A months-long investigation by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office’s (MCDA) Auto Theft Task Force (ATTF), dubbed “Operation MistleTow,” resulted in the arrest today of Joseph Allen Beard, 53, a suspect alleged to have stolen multiple vehicles through an illegal tow truck operation in order to sell the cars […]
January 2, 2024 Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt today announced that Jessie Garza III, 33, was arraigned on charges for the fatal shooting of Richard Newman that took place on December 14, 2023, in the Centennial Neighborhood. Following completion of the investigation into this case, law enforcement and the DA’s Office identified Garza as […]
Demetrius Vaughn has been indicted for the murder of Saul Villatoro Escoto-Eldibrando Edel Aragon-Cruz is charged in the fatal stabbing of Juan Francisco Orellana-Gavarrete; indictment pending December 27, 2023 Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt today announced that two suspects in two recent murder cases have been arraigned in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Demetrius Jermaine […]
December 21, 2023 DA Mike Schmidt announced today that the newly established Organized Retail Theft Task Force has presented multiple cases to grand juries over the last several months, resulting in the indictments of four high-profile suspects, as follows. Defendant: Jerry Lamont Spencer, 30* Jerry Spencer has been indicted on multiple charges that span 16 […]
December 20, 2023 Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt today announced that a Multnomah County jury delivered a guilty verdict for Marshawn Edwards, 27, for the 2021 shooting death of Jacob Eli Knight Vasquez, 34, at a Northwest Portland restaurant. The jury also found Edwards guilty of weapons and attempted murder charges for three separate […]
UPDATE: December 20, 2023 District Attorney Mike Schmidt today announced that the Multnomah County DA’s Office (MCDA) has received $300,000 in supplemental grant dollars to fund a dedicated bias crimes investigator. Funding was awarded to MCDA by the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Program. MCDA previously received a […]
December 15, 2023 Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt released a list of cases impacted by the public defense crisis. The list includes felony cases dismissed by the JC3 court as a result of the crisis. In November, DA Mike Schmidt called the public defense crisis– defined by a lack of public defenders to […]
December 14, 2023 Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt today released the 2023 Multnomah County Corrections Grand Jury Report. Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 132.440 requires an annual grand jury inquiry into the condition and management of every adult and youth correctional facility in the county. These facilities are: Multnomah County Detention Center (operated by the […]
UPDATE: Today, Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Angela Lucero sentenced Barbara Marie Michelle, 44, to 10 years in prison. The sentence follows a December 8th verdict where a 12-person jury found Michelle guilty for the shooting death of her boyfriend, Justin Lee Williams, 41. Michelle is currently in custody in Multnomah County and will be […]