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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 18, 2018)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 Hammond fisherman jailed, makes bail Bail was set at $1 million By JACK HEFFERNAN The Daily Astorian A Hammond fisherman who allegedly committed sex crimes and bribed and threat- ened a young woman has posted bail after he was sent back to jail Friday. Dennis Lee Sturgell Sr., 65, violated the terms of his release pending trial and returned to jail Friday. Circuit Court Judge Paula Brownhill set bail at $1 million. Hours after being taken to jail, he posted $100,000 and was released. Sturgell allegedly commit- ted several sex crimes against the woman while she was incapacitated in August 2015. James Herbert Cunning- ham, 47, of Astoria, was also allegedly present and com- mitted similar crimes, includ- ing rape. Oregon Assistant Attor- ney General Erin Greenawald is prosecuting the case, along with Clatsop County Dep- uty District Attorney Dawn Buzzard. Sturgell was charged with 13 sex crimes in November, including first-degree sod- omy and first-degree unlaw- ful sexual penetration. He then posted $50,000 bail and was released. In February, prosecutors added two counts of brib- ing and two counts of tampering with a wit- ness. They alleged that Sturgell indirectly Dennis Lee offered Sturgell Sr. the victim money and threatened to “hire a dream team of attorneys” to “dig up dirt on her” during an encounter with her father. In April, Brownhill ordered that the first bail payment be forfeited after Sturgell was found in viola- tion of his release agreement for a separate incident. He was ordered to pay $75,000 bail. He then was booked and posted the second bail payment that same day. On Friday, Brownhill revoked Sturgell’s agree- ment again after he failed twice to charge his ankle monitor — a requirement imposed in the April release agreement. She also ordered that the $75,000 bail be for- feited, bringing the total to $125,000. “Somehow, you need to make it clear to Mr. Sturgell that he needs to follow all requirements of his release agreement or he’s going to lose his money,” Brown- hill told Jason E. Thomp- son, Sturgell’s Salem-based attorney. Sturgell’s next hearing is scheduled for July. A very Scandinavian weekend Photos by Gary Henley/The Daily Astorian From left to right, Miss Sweden Madalyn Hellberg, Miss Scandinavia Kourtney Tischer, Junior Miss Finland Cheyenne Sutton and Miss Norway Kaitlyn Bakkensen enjoy a little dancing around the midsummer pole Sat- urday. The Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival took place at the county fairgrounds over the weekend. Two combatants go at it during a Viking battle demonstration. Sisters, left to right, Kara Dowaliby, Meg Dowaliby and Mara Dowaliby dance around the midsummer pole during Saturday’s festivities. Astoria man robbed at gunpoint in his home The Daily Astorian An Astoria man was robbed at gunpoint in his house Friday night. The man returned to his home on Alameda Avenue just after 7:30 p.m. and found a strange man inside. When confronted, the man pointed a gun directly at him. The victim then ran to a nearby restaurant and called police. Police searched the house and set up a perimeter but were unable to find the man, who had left with some of the victim’s property. About four hours later, a Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office deputy located a man who fit the description of the suspect near the New Youngs Bay Bridge. Michael Todd Warner, 42, was allegedly found in possession of a sto- len handgun and arrested and charged with felon in posses- sion of weapons and posses- sion of a firearm. He was later charged with first-degree bur- glary and first-degree robbery after the victim’s property was found. Perry Browning, aka, the Astoria Troll, greets a young admirer. Grand Marshal Sven Sundstrom of Astoria, who took part in the first Scandinavian Festival in 1968, sings the national anthem of Sweden for Saturday’s flag raising. Oregon Democrats blast ‘shameful’ Trump immigration policy Associated Press SHERIDAN — Dem- ocratic members of Ore- gon’s congressional delega- tion visited a federal prison Saturday where immigrants from Latin America have been transferred and blasted the Trump administration for separating parents from children. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said that “what we saw over the last hour demonstrates that the Trump ‘zero tolerance’ policy makes zero sense and shows zero understanding of American values.” U.S. Sen. Jeff Merk- ley and U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Earl Blume- nauer also toured the facility in Sheridan. “I think this is a shame- ful moment. It’s outrageous. We are criminalizing people who are persecuted,” Blume- nauer said. Bonamici said children were being taken from their parents’ arms because of federal policies. About 120 immigrants from Mexico and Cen- tral America are reportedly being held at the prison in Sheridan, near Salem. The administration is sending more than 1,600 immigrants — including some parents whose children were taken from them by U.S. officials — to federal prisons because other jails lack space. Authorities say immi- grants there entered the U.S. illegally. Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently announced a zero-tolerance policy 6 FREE $ COFFEE OR SODA (add whiskey because you’re retired) Lunch Special Half Sandwich Cup of Soup Meatloaf BLT Grilled Cheese Tuna Egg Salad - - - - - Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday - Under the Bridge - 281 W. Marine Drive Astoria • 503-338-7291 Are You Losing “Family Care”? I’M HERE TO HELP! Steve Putman Medicare Products 503-440-1076 putmanagency@gmail.com www.medicarehelpsus.com Licensed in Oregon and Washington involving people cross- ing the border illegally. As a result, more children are expected to be separated from their parents. Attorneys seeking to rep- resent the detainees in Ore- gon have said that they aren’t being given legal representation. The Oregonian reported that some lawyers were able to meet with detainees on Thursday but not on Friday. Carissa Cutrell, a spokes- woman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the agency is work- ing to ensure that detainees have appropriate access to lawyers. The Bureau of Prisons denied an AP request to visit the medium security facil- ity to access the conditions faced by the immigrants. The most valuable and respected source of local news, advertising and information for our communities. www.eomediagroup.com LEWIS & CLARK TIMBERLANDS Recreational Access Permit Public Notice All recreational activities on Lewis & Clark Timberlands Oregon will require a no fee recreational permit effective June 1, 2018 To acquire a permit (available 5/21/18): Go online to greenwoodresources.com and click on Recreation Access, or Scan the QR code using your smartphone at one of our access gate signs. Call 503.755.6655 for recorded information. Our goal is to provide a quality recreational experience while improving communications with our timberland visitors. Cutrell said ICE is com- mitted to connecting family members as quickly as pos- sible after separation so par- ents know where their chil- dren are and have regular communication with them in accordance with ICE pol- icies and detention standards Earlier this month, Merk- ley said he tried to enter a federal facility in Browns- ville, Texas, where immi- grant children are being held, but police were called and he was told to leave. Merkley was accused of grandstanding by the Depart- ment of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. The agency said concerns about the safety, security and dignity of the children led to Merkley being kept from the Texas facility. WANTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber Northwest Hardwoods • Longview, WA Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500 Fort Stevens Park and Friends of Old Fort Stevens O BSERVE THE 76 th A NNIVERSARY OF THE J UNE 21, 1942 J APANESE S UBMARINE A TTACK ON THE F ORT Wednesday, June 21 Noon-4 pm On the date of the attack, an interpreter will be at Battery Russell and the Pacific Rim Peace Memorial with displays and information about the attack. June 21, 1992: The 50th Anniversary of the Japanese attack. Over 150 Fort Stevens veterans gathered at Battery Russell to remember the event and to dedicate the Pacific Rim Peace Memorial. Sponsored by The Friends of Old Fort Stevens and Fort Stevens State Park 503-861-2000 • visitfortstevens.com
