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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 2016)
10A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2016 Queener: 6KHGDEEOHGLQ acting, hopes to act again Continued from Page 1A ¿UVW WLPH KHU KHULWDJH RU EDFNJURXQG GLGQ¶W FRXQW against her. “You would think that’s really where you would expect WKDW µRWKHUQHVV¶ EXW , ZDV HPEUDFHGLQWKDWFRPPXQLW\´ she said. Constitutional rights 4XHHQHU ² D \HDUROG with a diamond-sharp mind and a jaunty personality — attended Clatsop Community &ROOHJH IRU WZR \HDUV EHIRUH transferring to Willamette Uni- versity, where she earned her EDFKHORU¶V GHJUHH LQ SROLWLFV She graduated from the univer- VLW\¶VFROOHJHRIODZLQ Before graduating, Queener clerked in the Tilla- mook County District Attor- QH\¶V RI¿FH 6KH WKHQ PRYHG LQWR SXEOLF GHIHQVH FRQWUDFW ZRUNDQGLQEHFDPHD solo practitioner. Over the past several years, she’s handled a spec- trum of cases, from employ- ment discrimination and land- lord-tenant issues to criminal, juvenile, family and adminis- trative law. With her new prac- tice, she plans to add a civil lit- igation component. Though many of her cases KDYHKDGDFRPLFDOÀDLU²OLNH WKH JX\ LQ 3DFL¿F &LW\ ZKR swiped a police vehicle, drove it into a dead end and hid in the dune grass until the cops found KLP²VKH¶VDOVREHHQSULY\WR some pretty awful displays of KXPDQ EHKDYLRU HVSHFLDOO\ ZLWK FDVHV LQYROYLQJ DEXVH and restraining and stalking protective orders. When it comes to crimi- nal cases, she has defended FOLHQWV VKH EHOLHYHV ZHUH falsely accused — “That does sometimes happen,” she said — and some she knew were guilty. “They have a constitutional right to a good attorney,” she said. “We have an adversar- ial system in this country, and if I’m not defending them for any reason, they’re not getting the fair shake that they should EHJHWWLQJ,I,KDYHDZD\WR defend a client, even if I know that he is guilty, I’m going to do that.” A homecoming Before her son, Drew, ZDV ERUQ 4XHHQHU GDE- EOHG LQ FRPPXQLW\ WKHDWHU through the Tillamook Asso- FLDWLRQ IRU 3HUIRUPLQJ $UWV +DYLQJ QHYHU DFWHG EHIRUH DQG EHOLHYLQJ KHUVHOI WR EH inartistic, Queener needed VRPH FRQYLQFLQJ$ QHLJKERU and co-worker kept trying to pull her into it, and she kept refusing. “Then one day he sort of FRUQHUHGPHDQGVDLGµ+RZGR \RX IHHO DERXW $JDWKD &KULV- tie?’ And I said, ‘I love Agatha Christie! Who doesn’t!?” So she was cast in a produc- tion of Christie’s murder mys- tery “The Mousetrap.” “I got to know the people, and they were all so wonder- ful ... It was so much fun,” she said. “And pretty soon I wanted WREHSDUWRIHYHU\SOD\$QGRI course, it doesn’t work out that ZD\EXW,GLGZKDW,FRXOGXQWLO 'UHZZDVERUQ´ When Drew gets older DQGKLVEHGWLPHJHWVODWHUVKH hopes to reconnect with her inner thespian. For now, Queener and her KXVEDQG*DU\DUHVHWWOLQJLQWR Clatsop County, which, for her, feels rather like a homecoming. “I have to say, I’ve met peo- ple who love the rain; I’m not RQHRIWKHP,GRQ¶W¿VK,GRQ¶W hunt. So a lot of the attractions that the folks around here gen- erally see don’t necessarily apply to me,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to all WKH ¿VKHUPHQ SRHWU\ JDWKHU- LQJV DQG WKH DUW H[KLELWV DQG all the cool stuff that happens in Astoria that doesn’t neces- sarily happen in other small communities.” Though she didn’t realize it GXULQJKHU¿UVWVWD\LQ&ODWVRS County as a college student, “I WKLQN LW¶V JRLQJ WR EH D UHDOO\ JUHDWSODFHWREULQJXSP\NLG´ she said. “I think that the same people that helped me out, and were there for me when I was KHUHDUHSUREDEO\JRLQJWREH there for him while he’s grow- ing up.” And, if the area is the way VKH UHPHPEHUV LW IURP then it’s the community she will appreciate most. “I’m hop- LQJWR¿QGWKDWDJDLQ´ — Erick Bengel Bill: ‘It gives an opportunity for families ... to heal’ Continued from Page 1A Scott Lee, the chairman of the Clatsop County Board of &RPPLVVLRQHUVVDLGWKHERDUG will likely pass a resolution in VXSSRUWRIWKHELOO “It gives an opportunity for families and communities to heal,” Lee said. “This is a very good thing.” 7KHELOOLVQRZEHIRUHWKH VWDWH+RXVHIRUFRQVLGHUDWLRQ 7KH SURSHUW\ WD[ EUHDNV DUHVXSSRUWHGE\DVOHZRIODZ enforcement associations: The Oregon Association Chiefs of 3ROLFH 2UHJRQ 6WDWH 6KHULIIV Association; Oregon Associa- WLRQRI5HVHUYH3HDFH2I¿FHUV $VVRFLDWLRQ 2UHJRQ 3HDFH 2I¿FHUV $VVRFLDWLRQ 2UH- JRQ &RDOLWLRQ RI 3ROLFH DQG Sheriffs; Fraternal Order of 3ROLFH²2UHJRQ/RGJH2UH- gon Fire Chiefs Association; Oregon Fire District Direc- tors Association; Oregon Vol- XQWHHU )LUH¿JKWHUV $VVRFLD- tion and the Oregon State Fire Fighters Council. *RRGGLQJLVVXUYLYHGE\KLV wife, Amy, and two daughters. $ PHPRULDO LQ WKH IDOOHQ RI¿- cer’s honor at the Seaside Civic and Convention Center this PRQWK GUHZ SROLFH DQG ¿UH- ¿JKWHUVIURPDFURVVWKHQDWLRQ Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian Alexis Mather crowns Ryen Buys as Miss Clatsop County 2016. Miss Clatsop County: Miss Oregon pageant takes place this summer at the Seaside convention center Continued from Page 1A “I’m super happy I can com- pete here,” she said. Miller said she enjoys the whole pageant experience, IURP JDLQLQJ FRQ¿GHQFH WR EH LQWHUYLHZHG E\ VHYHUDO DGXOWV to making friendships with the RWKHU JLUOV WKDW HQGXUH EH\RQG the end of the night. Most importantly, the pag- eant is an opportunity for her to promote her platform, “Lupus — Raising Awareness.” Mill- er’s mother has the autoimmune disease. “I just want everyone to know what lupus is,” she said. ³,W¶VQRWFXUDEOHVRE\VSUHDG- ing awareness and other people helping out, I’m hoping we will ¿QGDFXUHODWHURQ´ The winners are … The three girls from out of county competing in the teen SDJHDQWZHUHHOLJLEOHWRZLQWKH Miss North Coast’s Outstanding 7HHQDQG0LVV&ROXPELD3DFLI- LF¶V2XWVWDQGLQJ7HHQWLWOHVEXW not the Miss Clatsop County’s Outstanding Teen title, which was reserved for Clatsop girls DQGZRQE\&DLWOLQ+LOOPDQ of Gearhart. 1LNNROH6DVVRRI$VWR- ria, won Miss North Coast’s Outstanding Teen. Sasso started in the noncom- SHWLWLYH 3ULQFHVV SURJUDP ZKHQ she was 5 years old. This was her second year competing in the program at the teen level. She enjoyed the interview process and KHUSODWIRUPLV³6KULQHUV+RVSL- tal for Children: The Importance of Diagnosing Scoliosis.” The Miss North Coast title ZDVZRQE\5XQGRI$VWR- ria, who attends the University RI2UHJRQ+HUSODWIRUPLV³7KH Ideal Body is Your Own.” 2IWKHFRQWHVWDQWVFRPSHW- ing for the Miss or Outstanding Teen titles at the pageant, nine VWDUWHG LQ WKH 3ULQFHVV SURJUDP Miss Clatsop County Scholar- VKLS SURJUDP LV DERXW PHQWRU- ship, said Newman, who started volunteering with the program in -XVWDVWKHFRQWHVWDQWVDUH required to have a personal plat- form, she said her own “personal platform is mentoring to young women and the future leaders of tomorrow through the Miss American Organization.” The teenagers and young women who competed in Clat- sop County this year are “just a great group of girls,” accord- ing to Newman. From the start, WKH\KDYHEHHQSURPSWHQJDJHG and dedicated. Yet Newman has seen growth and development in FRQ¿GHQFH DQG VNLOOV DV ZHOO she said. “For those lucky few who Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian actually win a title and do a year Teen contestant Viola Soprano performs a jump rope rou- RIWKLVWKHJURZWKLVLQFUHGLEOH´ tine during the talent competition. she added. :LWKWKH¿HOGRIFRXQW\UHS- ³,WGH¿QLWHO\KHOSVJHWDFURVV UHVHQWDWLYHV QDUURZHG IURP ³OHDUQLQJPRUHDERXWP\VHOIDQG ¿JXULQJRXWWKDWZKDW,¶PVD\LQJ the point if you’re very active WR¿YHJLUOV1HZPDQDQGRWK- with (your platform),” she said. ers now will help the contestants people want to hear,” she said. %X\V RI 6HDVLGH ZRQ prepare to take the stage at the Sasso not only promotes her platform, the “Astoria Wishing Miss Clatsop County. Buys, a Miss Oregon Scholarship pag- 7UHH3URJUDP´EXWDOVRYROXQ- VHQLRU DW 6HDVLGH +LJK 6FKRRO eant this summer at the Seaside did a cheer routine for her talent; Civic and Convention Center. teers with it, as well. Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian Jeff Ter Har/For The Daily Astorian Miss Clatsop County Outstanding Teen Caitlin Hillman hugs Miss North Coast’s Outstanding Teen 2015 Hayliehe Bell. Miss North Coast Tess Rund is crowned Saturday at the Miss Clatsop County Scholarship Program. Verdict: For another appeal, he’ll have to petition Oregon Supreme Court Continued from Page 1A ,Q D MXU\ RULJLQDOO\ FRQYLFWHG .HOO\ RI FRXQWV RI ¿UVWGHJUHH VRGRP\ DQG FRXQWV RI ¿UVWGHJUHH VH[XDO DEXVHIRURQJRLQJDEXVHRIWKH DIDPLO\PHPEHUEHWZHHQ-XO\ DQG 0D\ 7KH JLUO ¿UVWUHSRUWHGWKHDEXVHLQ0D\ WRKHUIDWKHU¶V¿DQFHH At the trial, the prosecution relied on testimony from Dr. Roy Little, who said the girl suffered IURPV\PSWRPVRIVH[XDODEXVH though there was no physical evi- dence to support the claim. An Oregon Supreme Court GHFLVLRQLQKHOGWKDWPHG- LFDOH[SHUWVFDQQRWWHVWLI\DERXW FKLOGVH[DEXVHGLDJQRVHVLIQR physical evidence exists. As a result, Little’s testimony was deemed invalid. The Oregon Court of Appeals overturned .HOO\¶VFRQYLFWLRQLQDQG ordered that Clatsop County Circuit Court schedule a new trial. “They said you could not put on a doctor to give a medical diagnosis without any physical ¿QGLQJV´&ODWVRS&RXQW\&KLHI Deputy District Attorney Ron Brown said. “We didn’t have DQ\SK\VLFDO¿QGLQJV,WZDVDQ automatic reversal.” .HOO\ ZDV UHWULHG LQ and was again convicted of FRXQWV RI VH[XDO DEXVH DQG sodomy. Brown, the prosecutor at ERWK WULDOV VDLG WKH FRQYLFWLRQ on the retried case was possi- EOHGXHWRWKHYLFWLP¶VWHVWLPRQ\ and DNA evidence found where WKHDEXVHWRRNSODFH ³(YHU\WKLQJMXVW¿WWRJHWKHU´ Brown said. Still, Kelly appealed the FRQYLFWLRQ ZKLFK ZDV XSKHOG E\ WKH DSSHDOV FRXUW Thursday. If Kelly wants to appeal the latest decision, he will have to petition the Oregon Supreme Court to take his case. “There LV QRWKLQJ DXWRPDWLF DERXW LW´ Brown said. “They turn people down every day of the week.” Kelly could also try post-con- viction relief, claiming his attor- QH\PHVVHGXS+RZHYHUWKDWLV unlikely since he hired his attor- ney and spent a large amount of money. “I don’t think he has any ave- nues there at all,” Brown said. In his appeal, Kelly claimed the prosecution did not give proper notice to use hearsay statements of the victim. In any FKLOGDEXVHFDVHWKHSURVHFXWLRQ must give notice to the defense that it plans to use hearsay state- ments. In this case, the state- ments related to an interview the victim gave at the Lighthouse IRU .LGV D FKLOGDEXVH DVVHVV- ment center in Astoria. The Court of Appeals ruled WKHRULJLQDOQRWLFHIURPWKH¿UVW trial was valid for the second trial. “They said the notice was SHUIHFWO\¿QH´%URZQVDLG Kelly also unsuccessfully tried to appeal the trial court’s denial for a change of venue. Kelly wanted the trial moved VRPHZKHUH HOVH EHFDXVH RI DOO WKH SUHWULDO SXEOLFLW\ %URZQ QRWHG WKDW WKH SXEOLFLW\ ZDV PRVWO\FUHDWHGE\.HOO\DQGKLV supporters. Many of Kelly’s friends and IDPLO\ ZHUH RXWVSRNHQ DERXW his innocence, including one PDQ ZKR FUHDWHG WKH ZHEVLWH freetom.info. A sign is still vis- LEOHIURP86+LJKZD\RXW- side Astoria expressing support for Kelly.
