MONROE RALLY ENDS KNAPPA’S SEASON SPORTS • PAGE 12A
DailyAstorian.com // MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017
145TH YEAR, NO. 101
ONE DOLLAR
BUILDING
BRIDGES
Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian
District Attorney Josh Marquis supports a legal challenge
to a new law that reduces the presumptive prison sen-
tences for theft and identity theft.
Marquis backs
legal challenge
to sentencing
changes
Law reduces
penalty for theft
and identity theft
By DERRICK DePLEDGE
The Daily Astorian
District Attorney Josh Mar-
quis supports a legal challenge
to a new Oregon law that soft-
ens prison sentences for theft
and identity theft.
The law is among several
steps the state has taken to con-
tain spending to house inmates
for drug and property crimes
and avoid building new pris-
ons. Starting in January, it low-
ers the presumptive sentence
for theft and identity theft to 13
months, down from 18 months.
Clackamas County Dis-
trict Attorney John Foote and
two crime victims filed a law-
suit in Circuit Court in Oregon
City last week challenging the
law. The suit claims the Legis-
lature, under the state Constitu-
tion, needed two-thirds votes in
the House and Senate to reduce
criminal sentences approved by
voters.
Measure 57, backed by
voters in 2008, had increased
prison sentences for drug and
property crimes.
“I’m very supportive — for
the record — of Mr. Foote‘s
lawsuit,” Marquis said in an
email. “Many elected DAs sup-
port him against the Legisla-
ture’s attempt to overrule an
overwhelming vote of the peo-
ple in 2008 as disgraceful.”
Last summer, Marquis
described the bill as “hocking
a huge loogie into the face of
Oregon’s voters” and predicted
a legal challenge if it became
law.
Along with lowering sen-
tences for theft and identity
theft, the law extended short-
term transitional leave for
prison inmates to 120 days
before their scheduled release
dates, up from 90 days.
The law also expanded the
eligibility criteria for the Fam-
ily Sentencing Alternative Pilot
Program, hoping to reduce the
surge in the women’s prison
population.
The reforms are part of Ore-
gon’s justice reinvestment ini-
tiative, a strategy to control
prison spending and confront
recidivism. The state has urged
counties to supervise more drug
and property offenders locally
through jail, probation and drug
abuse and mental health treat-
ment, reserving prison for vio-
lent criminals.
Some prosecutors, like Mar-
quis, have resisted.
Foote’s lawsuit rests on the
reach of Measure 10, a 1994
ballot initiative that amended
the state Constitution to require
the two-thirds threshold for the
Legislature on bills that reduce
criminal sentences approved by
voters.
The suit claims the new law
is invalid and unenforceable
because the House and Senate
fell short of the vote threshold.
Foote and the crime victims
also argue that the suit defends
the integrity of the ballot initia-
tive process.
David Rogers, executive
director of the ACLU of Ore-
gon, said in an email that Foote
“is engaging in classic scare
tactics with how he describes
modest sentencing reforms,
while ignoring what most peo-
ple know. The war on drugs is
a failure and property crime is
largely driven by addiction. We
won’t break the cycle of crime
by focusing on longer sen-
tences and prison expansion.
We need to focus on increasing
treatment and prevention.
“Mr. Foote says he is con-
cerned about victims, but he is
trying to stop a law that was
going to invest a million dol-
lars in victim services. He says
the Legislature is not reflect-
ing voter interests, but we don’t
know any Oregonians that want
to spend tens of millions of tax-
payer dollars opening a new
women’s prison.”
Photos by Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian
U.S. and Chinese soldiers participate in disaster training drills at Camp Rilea on Saturday.
Exercise tests disaster preparedness
By JACK HEFFERNAN
The Daily Astorian
S
oldiers from the U.S. and Chinese armies conducted disaster response drills at
Camp Rilea last week, forming bonds in case of a major flood somewhere on
the Pacific rim. It marked the first time the annual exercise — one of the few
opportunities for collaboration between the two militaries — took place in Oregon.
Both soldiers and civilians took part in academic
discussions, table-top exercises and field training in
Portland and Camp Rilea from Monday through Sun-
day. Organizations like the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Geological
Survey also participated.
The event has evolved since the initial exercise 20
years ago. It centered on a theoretical scenario, but
drills and discussions were based on real-life data from
a previous major flood in Peru.
“I learn something new every time that I partici-
pate,” said People’s Liberation Army Maj. Gen. Zhang
Jian through a translator at a Sunday press conference.
“This round ... is more practical.”
See DRILLS, Page 8A
U.S. and Chinese soldiers practice cutting through concrete.
Longtime fire chief remembered
Boone recalled as mentor
and community leader
By R.J. MARX
The Daily Astorian
SEASIDE — The firefighting community is
mourning the loss of Bill Boone, who served as
Hamlet’s fire chief for many years.
Boone, 66, died Nov. 4 after a battle with
cancer.
Hamlet Fire Chief Matt Verley remembered
Boone as a chief, teacher, mentor and friend.
“Countless people are alive today because of
Bill’s efforts,” Verley said. “Even after decades
on the department, Bill was often the first per-
son to the station when the pager sounded at 2
a.m.”
Boone spent most of his life in Hamlet, run-
ning his general contracting business and serv-
ing the Hamlet fire department for more than 30
years. He was the husband of state Rep. Debo-
rah Boone, who represents House District 32.
“It’s a huge loss for Hamlet community and
the county,” Gearhart Fire Chief Bill Eddy said.
“He did a lot for the community. I’ve known
him for probably 15 to 20 years. He never got
excited, took everything in stride, was proficient
at what he did and if he had a question, he’d
ask.”
Seaside Fire Chief Joey Daniels battled
many blazes alongside Boone.
“He was a great man, and he was a mentor
to all of us, especially to all of us fire chiefs,”
Daniels said. County Commissioner Lianne
Thompson, who represents Hamlet, was a long-
time friend.
“Bill Boone was salt of the earth,” Thomp-
son said. “Forty years with the Hamlet fire
See BOONE, Page 8A
Shelly Clooten
Paul Weaver, chairman of the board for the Hamlet His-
torical Schoolhouse, left, presents Hamlet Volunteer Fire
Department Chief Bill Boone with a special award as a
thank you for the “40 years and counting.”