Page 2
March 4, 2015
Possible Freedom for
Marijuana Offenders
Frederick
proposes law to
align with new
legalization
O LIVIA O LIVIA
T HE P ORTLAND O BSERVER
At this point everyone knows
that recreational marijuana will soon
be legal in the state of Oregon. But
what will become of the scores of
men and women serving time for
marijuana-affiliated crimes in the
state or those with criminal records
related to marijuana use or sale that
prevent them from getting housing,
jobs, and sometimes even an educa-
tion.
Rep. Lew Frederick, who repre-
sents north and northeast Port-
BY
Rep. Lew Frederick
land in the state Legislature, is
pushing forward a new bill that
could mean people jailed for non-
violent marijuana crimes would no
longer be kept behind bars.
The proposed legislation
would reduce sentences for
people sent to prison for mari-
juana-related crimes for a drug
that becomes legal in Oregon
come July 1. His bill could also
help people convicted of non-
violent marijuana crimes to ex-
punge their records.
“There are two aspects of the
bill, for folks who are currently
serving,” Frederick said. “I be-
lieve it’s like less than 100
people who are presently in jail
in Oregon for this, but there are
several thousand people who
were arrested in the past and
now have records based solely
on marijuana. You are told you
can’t get housing or certain
jobs, or even sometimes an edu-
cation, due to these previous
records.”
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Fatal shooting
shatters peaceful
afternoon
Police were called to a broad day-
light shooting at North Blandena
Street and Commercial Avenue
Monday where they found the body
of a 29-year-old male, identified as
Marquis “Odie” Delon Chaney, a
black resident of the neighborhood
who appeared to have been fatally
shot at least once.
Friends and family gathered at
the site immediately following the
shooting, which occurred around
2:30 p.m. and was only two blocks
north of Jefferson High School.
Homicide detectives and gang
enforcement officers responded and
later escorted Cheney’s mother to
the scene.
Authorities said the killing
marked the 26th time that the Port-
land Police Bureau’s Gang Violence
Response Team has come out to a
shooting or stabbing since the New
Year. The numbers have more than
doubled since this time last year.
Anyone with information about
Monday’s murder, including infor-
mation learned on social media,
should contact investigators on the
case, Detective Mark Sponhauer at
503-823-0416 or Detective Kristina
Coffey at 503-823-0696.
image had a countdown clock to
March 11 at 11 a.m. which caused
many students to become dis-
traught by the implications. A
social media post said it was the
first clue to a Portland puzzle. The
Kersey Memorial Held
Jerome Kersey was remembered as FBI said there was no threat, but
police are investigating.
a gifted athlete
Week in
The Review
who made him-
self a solid
NBA player
through hard
work during a
public memo-
rial service
Monday at Memorial Coliseum.
Former Trail Blazer Coach Rick
Aldelman, ex teammate Terry Por-
ter, current coach Terry Stotts and
Kersey’s widow, Teri, were also on
had. Kersey died suddenly on Feb.
18 from a blot clot to his lungs. He
was 52.
Targeting E-Cigarettes
Lawmakers in the Oregon House
voted Monday to tighten restric-
tions on electronic cigarettes, in-
cluding banning indoor use and
sales to minors. The proposal
would also outlaw the use of e-
cigarettes and other vaporizing de-
vices in workplaces and bars.
Boyfriend Pleads Not Guilty
Nicholas R. Estrada, 22, pleaded not
guilty to murder Monday in the Feb.
18 death of his girlfriend, whose
body was found the next day in the
Willamette River off Kelly Point Park.
Ferguson Racial Bias Report Elyesicia C. Payton died of blunt
A Justice Department investiga- force trauma and drowned, accord-
tion will allege sweeping patterns ing to an autopsy.
of discrimination within the
Ferguson, Mo., police depart- More Time to Transfer
ment, jail and municipal court, a On Sunday, TriMet officially ex-
law enforcement official familiar tended transfer times for single-ride
with the report said Tuesday. The tickets to 2.5 hours from 2 hours.
report will charge that police dis- This is expected to create relief for
proportionately use excessive long-distance commuters coming
force against blacks and that black into the central city for work or school
drivers are stopped and searched from the surrounding suburbs.
far more often than white motor-
Man Breaks Into Courthouse
ists, even though they're less likely
A 27-year-old man was jailed after
to be carrying contraband.
his arrest Monday for breaking
into the Multnomah County Court-
Puzzling Image Causes Stir
A mysterious symbol plastered house overnight. Michael
across three Portland high Hernandez is accused of burglary,
schools shook students, parents disorderly conduct and criminal
and school officials Monday. The mischief.
4747 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97211
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