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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 29, 2016)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 Top court affi rms attempted murder ruling Former Seaview man will continue long prison term By NATALIE ST. JOHN EO Media Group OLYMPIA, Wash. — Despite a years long effort to get his con- viction reversed, former Seaview resident Martin Arthur Jones will stay in prison. T he Washington Supreme Court reinstated Jones’ 2011 fi rst-degree attempted murder conviction in a decision last week. Jones was accused of shoot- ing of Sheriff Scott Johnson, who was a Washington state trooper at the time, in the after- math of a 2010 traffi c stop. He was sentenced to serve about 50 years, and has been incar- cerated in a state prison in Walla Walla since 2011. Jones f amily responds Jones and his family have always maintained that he did not shoot Johnson. In an email, his wife, Susan Jones, said the family was disappointed, but “not really surprised” by the outcome, because the state’s highest court only consid- ered very specifi c legal issues having to do with procedures during the trial, rather than the quality of the criminal investi- gation or the facts of the case. The family plans to continue fi ghting the conviction. “Fortunately, with that pro- cess now behind us, we enter a new stage. Other options for challenging the conviction that were not previously avail- able, now present themselves. While an appeal is limited to the trial record, in a post-con- viction petition, a prisoner may submit new evidence,” Jones wrote. “With information that has come forth since the trial, Marty Jones and family remain optimistic of an eventual favor- able outcome.” History of the appeal Jones successfully argued in the state Court of Appeals that he was deprived of his right to an open trial, when a court offi - cial drew a name for an alter- nate juror during a court recess. The appeals court dismissed his conviction, but in 2013, the State Attorney General’s Offi ce asked the Washington Supreme Court to reconsider the case. The justices heard oral argu- ments in February . The Supreme Court focused National Park visitors bring $15 million to North Coast The Daily Astorian Lewis and Clark National Historical Park had 270,411 visitors in 2015 who spent $15. 4 million in communi- ties around the North Coast, according to a recent report from the National Parks Service. “Lewis and Clark National Historical Park welcomes vis- itors from across the country and around the world,” Super- intendent Scott Tucker said. “We are delighted to share the story of this place and the experiences it provides.” National park tourism is a signifi cant driver in the national economy, accord- ing to Tucker, returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service. The visitor spending report was conducted by economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas of the U.S. Geological Sur- vey and Lynne Koontz of the National Park Service. The 2015 report shows $16.9 billion of direct spend- ing by 307.2 million park visi- tors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 295,000 jobs nationally; 252,000 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities. The cumulative bene- fi t to the U.S. economy was $32 billion, according to the National Parks Service. Most park visitor spending was for lodging, followed by food and beverages, gas and oil, admissions and fees and souvenirs and other expenses. States set summer and fall salmon seasons Oregon and Washington state fi shery managers have announced the summer and fall salmon seasons for the Columbia River. Summer C hinook fi sh- eries begin June 16, with a daily bag limit of two hatch- ery C hinook. The season is expected to remain open through the summer manage- ment period, ending on July 31. The fall salmon seasons are based on a strong pro- jected return of 960,000 fall C hinook, and include C hi- nook retention through Labor Day in the popular Buoy 10 fi shery, plus two additional any-C hinook retention days between Tongue Point and Warrior Rock. As in recent years, the “boat limit” rule will be in place from Buoy 10 upstream to the Oregon- Washington border. Salmon anglers fi sh- ing from the same boat may continue fi shing until all licensed anglers have reached their daily limits. Impacts to Endangered Species Act listed C hinook stocks remain the major constraint for all fall sea- son L ower Columbia River fi sheries. Oregon and Washington staff will closely monitor the fi shery and, if possible, may propose removing the adi- pose-only requirement later in the season. Given the limitation on u priver b right fall Chinook, the area upstream of War- rior Rock will have the tradi- tional two adult Chinook per day bag limit for the season. The forecast for the upper Columbia River is 93,000 fi sh, a strong return, but less than the modern record of 127,000 upriver fi sh last year. Summer steelhead fore- casts remain low, and to avoid closures, daily bag limits may need to be reduced at times and in some areas to keep steelhead opportunities open through the season. Anglers should be alert for potential modifi cations to steelhead bag limits and in-season changes to C hi- nook retention rules. Reg- ulation updates are avail- able on the ODFW website at http://bit.ly/1jT61dm Took money, memorabilia and a dunk tank By KYLE SPURR The Daily Astorian The former director of the Commercial Fishermen’s Festi- val who stole money out of fes- tival bank accounts, took signs and autographed memorabilia and kept a dunk tank was resen- tenced Thursday in Clatsop County Circuit Court. Ronald Kay Williams, 51, was originally sentenced to more than three years in prison in 2013 after a jury found him guilty of fi rst-degree aggravated theft, fi rst-degree theft and tam- pering with a witness. He immediately appealed the sentence, specifi cally claim- ing he never knew the person he contacted would be a witness in his trial. The Oregon Court of Appeals agreed and reversed Keela 7-year old Mini Pinscher/Pug Though special needs, this little imp is a delight, full of love unflinching that cannot lie. For questions call 503-738-5586 Email: shscentennialcelebration@gmail.com Facebook: Seaside High School Centennial Celebration www.dogsncats.org APPLY IN PERSON ANYTIME AT: 1371 SW Hemlock, Cannon Beach ATTEND A MEET & GREET: April 16 th or 23 rd 10 AM -2 PM OR SEND YOUR RESUME TO: Employment@Pelicanbrewing.com www.yourlittlebeachtown.com/employment Questions? Call Stephanie 503-965-7779 ext. 307 KICKSTANDS UP AT 12 PM VFW POST 7824 400 N. ANDRESEN RD. VANCOUVER, WA LUNCH AT 2 PM AMERICAN LEGION 1132 EXCHANGE ST ASTORIA, OR In Honor of Patrick Hope “8-Ball” Past President & Forever Brother Noon to 4pm, Tues-Sat UNIO DE N SI IAL CEN 19 TENN 6 16-2 01 Saturday Opening Coastal Family Health Center Beginning March 19th, 8 AM – 5 PM (503) 325-8315 Located on the 3rd floor of the Park Medical bldg. 2158 Exchange Street, Astoria, OR 97103 1916-2016 All events will take place at Seaside High School, 1901 North Holladay Drive. This event is a Paciica project. All proceeds from donations will beneit enrichment programs for students. Line Cooks, Prep Cooks, Dishwashers, Managers, Servers, Bartenders, Hosts, Bussers – All positions! SATURDAY, MAY 7TH 1315 SE 19th St., Warrenton • 861- PETS Celebrate with us the 100th year of graduating classes at Seaside Union High School. Spend the afternoon touring the school, visiting with old friends, browsing through memorabilia, and listening to alumni speak about their experiences at Seaside High School. NO W H IR IN G 2 ND ANNUAL 8-BALL REMEBEANCE RUN CLATSOP COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER Saturday, May 7, 2016 2:00pm-5:00pm Pelican Brewing Company is hiring & training staff for the new Pelican in Cannon Beach, opening in early May, and we want YOU on our TEAM! the tampering with current fi ve-year a witness convic- sentence. Williams’ crimes tion last month. The occurred between court ordered he be September 2011 and resentenced. March 2012. Williams, who is The case against serving a fi ve-year Williams stemmed prison sentence for from his resigna- other charges of tam- tion in 2011 from the pering and bribing Fishermen’s Festi- witnesses, appeared Ronald Kay val after a compen- in court Thursday. Williams sation disagreement “This case, at best, was a civil matter and it with the board. After leaving the turned into a criminal issue,” he organization, he cleared out the said. “I’ve done years of my life festival’s offi ce, taking with him in prison for nothing. Nobody autographed memorabilia that included the signatures of fi sh- took a loss but me.” At the hearing, Judge ermen from the television show Philip Nelson resentenced “Deadliest Catch.” The stolen items and cash Williams to 34 months in prison, a year shorter than his totaled more than $24,000. He original sentence. The prison also stole a dunk tank belonging to time will be added on to his Warrenton Kids Inc. worth $1,850. (More on http://Petfinder.com/ ) Sponsored by S. H. DailyAstorian.com whole lot of reaction. There are no winners in this,” John- son said . “It’s taken a long time — six years, two months, one week and four days, I think.” Johnson said he was “relieved” but knows the case could end up in court again. “Potentially this could be something I have to deal with the rest of my life. That’s why I try not to get excited about it,” Johnson said. “But at least this particular chapter is over — for now.” Johnson remains as con- vinced of Jones’ guilt, as Jones’ family members are of his innocence. “There’s no doubt about it. I know who shot me. There’s no question about that. I looked him the eye. I was 2 feet from the man,” Johnson said. Fishing festival director resentenced after appeal VOLUN T E E R PICK OF THE WEE K SEASIDE HIGH SCHOOL CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Visit us online at the results, Jones and his attor- ney didn’t seem concerned. “There is no indication that anyone expressed any surprise, confusion or objections …,” the justices wrote. It was not until a week after the ver- dict, when Jones fi led a motion for The justices a new trial, that he weigh in raised concerns The Supreme about violations of Court justices con- his constitutional cluded that nearly rights. every procedure In conclusion, Martin Jones related to selecting the justices wrote, jurors had happened “While it might be on the record, and in the best practice to Jones’ presence. conduct such a drawing in the When the court offi cial presence of the defendant and selected the alternates during the public, it is not constitu- an eight-minute break, only tionally required.” the jurors were explicitly Johnson’s reaction instructed to leave the room. “I didn’t really have a When court staff announced SEA The Daily Astorian on just two questions: Was Jones denied his constitutional right to a public trial? And should Jones’ conviction be reversed, due to his claim that was he was denied his right to be pres- ent for all critical stages of the trial? 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