PAGE A4, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 04, 2022
of the Week
presented by
Tammy Wild
Where and how
do you volunteer?
"I volunteer at the Keizer Heritage
Museum located in the old Keizer School
(Keizer Cultural Center). My main role
is researching, compiling and displaying
Keizer's history at the museum and online
through our Facebook page "Keizer History,"
YouTube channel, and website."
What makes you
volunteer?
"Our main goal is to preserve our history
for future generations. If we don't document
and share our heritage now, it will be
lost. Sharing Keizer's history helps build
ownership in our community - we all have a
part to play in establishing a legacy. I want
to give honor and recognition to those who
have gone before us."
What does volunteering
do for you?
"Serving at the Keizer Heritage Museum has
given me a purpose and role to share and
build on the knowledge of living here since
the 1970s. I'm glad I can use my time and
talents to benefit others through education
Keizer man sentenced to 16 years
By CHARLES GLENN
Of the Keizertimes
Kristian Mann, 23, of Keizer, was sen-
tenced to 16 years in prison last week in
a Marion County Circuit courtroom for
first degree robbery and manslaughter
in the 2020 shooting death of Salem res-
ident Oscar Martinez at the Starbucks
parking lot in Keizer Station.
Mann, along with Dasio Gonzalez,
23, of Salem, was initially charged with
being a felon in possession of a firearm
as well as delivering a controlled sub-
stance, but both men were quickly linked
to the death of Martinez, and Mann was
eventually charged with second-degree
murder.
Circuit Court Judge Thomas Hart
also ordered Mann to serve a three-year
probationary period at the completion of
his sentence. The drug and gun charges
against Mann were ultimately dropped.
Last year, co-defendant Gonzales
pleaded guilty to manslaughter and rob-
bery and was sent to prison for 15 years.
The deadly encounter occurred in a
Keizer Station parking lot in February of
last year. Court records indicate Martinez
was there to sell marijuana to Mann and
Gonzales. When the two men attempted
to steal Martinez’s backpack, he fought
back and was killed at the scene.
“I don’t think there is anything I can
say that will make anything better,” said
an emotional Mann at his hearing. “I’ve
thought a lot about what [the Martinez
family] have been through, and Oscar
had his whole life ahead of him . . . I want
to apologize for my part in what hap-
pened. This was not supposed to happen,
but it did and here we are.”
“I’m glad you’ve had the opportunity
to reflect on all of that,” Hart replied. “It
was not a situation that I believe was
planned, at the outset, but things got
ugly in a hurry and the outcomes were
really bad – not only for you but for every-
one involved. There are no winners in
this situation.”
Prosecutors read statements from
Martinez’s siblings, and his mother spoke
to the court through a translator.
“I would like you to know that my
son was not a person to have issues with
Kristian Mann, 23, was sentenced last week to 16 years in prison for his part in an armed rob-
bery and shooting death that occurred at Keizer Station in 2020.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
anyone,” said Maria Martinez. “He had
many friends who loved him very much.
He was very responsible with his two
children and a hard worker.”
She went on describe the turmoil her
family has been experiencing, noting
especially how close Oscar was with his
younger brother, who had been experi-
encing severe depression and suicidal
thoughts since the loss of his big brother
and mentor.
“My 12-year-old daughter Gabby
stays in her room all day and cries,” she
exclaimed tearfully. “My older son is in
Sorry
we were closed this week
and connection."
How would you get others
to volunteer in their
community?
We will
Re-open next week
Thank you for your understanding
"Start where you live to better your
neighborhood - get the younger generation
involved with picking up garbage or pulling
weeds. There are many small ways to help.
Share your family's Keizer history with
photos, interviews and videos."
WE HAVE MOVED >>> Our new location is 4157 Cherry Avenue, Keizer <<< 503-362-5611
Mexico and suffering also because of
Oscar’s death. It is very painful that he
can’t be here to grieve with us.”
The court agreed to drop two of the
lesser charges against Mann – felony
possession of a firearm and delivery of
a controlled substance. His final set of
charges included Manslaughter in the
First Degree and Robbery in the First
Degree with a firearm.
Due to his prior record, Mann entered
the hearing with a presumptive prison
sentence of 66 to 70 months. However
a prior court determined both crimes
fell under Ballot Measure 11, carrying a
mandatory minimum sentence of 120
months.
Ballot Measure 11 was a 1994 initiative
setting minimum mandatory sentences
for serious crimes. Two-thirds of Oregon
voters approved the measure. Due to the
serious nature of these crimes, Mann will
not be eligible for early release due to
good behavior.
Hart objected the defendant’s nego-
tiated cash award of $5,000 to cover
Mann’s legal expenses, directing the
court to ensure those funds went to the
Martinez family, instead, to cover funeral
expenses.
He went on to explain that both
crimes were qualitatively different
enough to justify consecutive sentences,
ruling that Mann be sent to prison for
16 years with an additional three-year
period of community service at the end
of his incarceration.