Polk County News
6A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 27, 2016
More settlements, trials with full DA staff
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
POLK COUNTY — Measuring
success in a district attorney’s of-
fice isn’t as easy as documenting
the performance of a sports team.
It isn’t all about winning or los-
ing at trial.
In Polk County, the majority of
cases don’t make it that far, and
that, in itself, could be considered
a “win,” said Polk County District
Attorney Aaron Felton.
“Most cases settle, and there is a
reason for that,” Felton said. “We
file cases that are good, solid
cases.”
That is in part a credit to police
agencies doing a professional job
getting cases ready for prosecution
before forwarding them to the DA’s
office, Felton said. “Declines,” or
cases refused or sent back to local
police agencies for further investi-
gation, have decreased by more
than half since the 2013-14 fiscal
year.
“We are taking cases and work-
ing them through disposition,” Fel-
ton said.
The other part of that equation
is having what Felton considers a
full staff.
Nearly one year after voters ap-
proved the public safety levy giving
his office three more prosecutors
and two additional support staff
positions, Felton said his office is
recovering.
Felton had a full complement of
prosecutors by July of 2015 and,
with that in place, his office is on
track to match or exceed the num-
ber of trials and settlements in
2014-15, which was about 600.
The office also was able to add a
part-time victims’ assistance coor-
dinator thanks to a grant.
Felton took the opportunity of
bringing on more employees to re-
structure the office, creating a po-
sition to handle the intake and dis-
tribution of “discovery,” or evi-
dence. That was part of a change
Felton believes will make his office
more efficient — and devoid of
paper files.
“Everything is going digital,” Fel-
ton said. “We’re going paperless.
The goal would be paperless by
July 1.”
He said the new system will
make the obligation of turning over
evidence to defense attorneys easi-
er, and good for organization in
general.
“It’s a prudent investment in
cost savings and efficiency that has
made us work sharper and better,”
he said. “In the long run, it will
make us more efficient.”
Case numbers for 2016-17
should grow significantly as the
Polk County Sheriff’s Office fills its
patrol and drug team vacancies,
and as other local police agencies
add officers.
Felton said his office is preparing
for that by assigning prosecutors to
certain types of cases. He’s desig-
nated attorneys to misdemeanors,
domestic violence, sex abuse and
child abuse. Most attorneys are
carrying a lighter caseload.
“Before the levy, our caseloads
were much higher per attorney
than other offices our size,” Felton
said. “That was inefficient and
wasn’t giving people the proper
amount of time for each case.”
The number of sex abuse cases,
however, are a concern. Those are
assigned to Chief Deputy Jayme
Kimberly, and she’s balancing 140
sex abuse cases, in addition to
child abuse cases and administra-
tive duties in the office. Felton and
Kimberly are looking for the best
way to reduce her caseload.
“She is one of our most experi-
enced prosecutors and her case-
load is extremely complex and
sensitive, so what I’m also looking
at is training,” Felton said.
He said Polk County is unique in
that it has a jail with a large capac-
ity, a strong parole and probation
department with the capability to
supervise felony and misde-
meanor offenders, and effective re-
sources for drug treatment pro-
grams for those who need them.
“A lot of counties cannot put
those three together because of re-
sources,” he said, adding that with
levy resources, his office is now in
a position to use all of them. “I
know my people are better in court
as a result.”
OBITUARIES
Paul Thomas
Mannen Jr.
Aug. 22, 1933 – April 12, 2016
Paul Thomas Mannen Jr.,
82, of Dallas, died April 12.
He was born in San Diego
to Paul Mannen Sr. and
Bertha Klicka Mannen.
He graduated from San
Dieguito
High in
1951, and
spent a
year at
Pomona
College.
P a u l
served in
the Army
for two
y e a r s ,
spending
part of
that time
in Korea. Upon his return,
he enrolled at Oregon State
College (OSU) where he ma-
jored in pre-med and met
his wife of nearly 60 years,
Carol Blatchford, of Mil-
waukie. They were married
on Sept. 20, 1956.
Paul graduated from OSC
in 1958, and entered the
University of Oregon Med-
ical School in Portland. He
then attended Portland State
University to earn his teach-
ing credentials.
He taught in Boring and
Sandy, and coached football
and baseball.
Paul returned to OSC on a
full scholarship to earn his
master’s degree.
His career took him to Or-
land, Calif., and Hilo,
Hawaii, before he and his
family moved back to Ore-
gon.
Upon his return to Ore-
g o n , Pa u l t a u g h t a n d
coached in Milwaukie,
Rainier and Dallas.
Retirement had allowed
him to become involved in
many volunteer efforts.
He was recognized by the
community of Dallas as the
Good Samaritan and by the
Oregon Athletic Directors
Association as the outstand-
ing athletic director for the
state of Oregon.
The Presbyterian Church
became a very important
part of his life, as well as the
Delbert Hunter Arboretum.
Sister Laurel Judith died
before he did.
Survivors include wife,
Carol; children, Katherine
Ann, Douglas Paul, Mary
Eleanor, Laura Jean; 10
grandchildren; and extend-
ed family.
Memorial service is May 7
at 11 a.m. at the First Presby-
terian Church in Dallas.
Contributions are sug-
gested to Dallas Education
Foundation, Delbert Hunter
Arboretum, or Dallas First
Presbyterian Church in care
of the Dallas Mortuary Trib-
ute Center, which handled
arrangements.
To send an online tribute:
www.dallastribute.com.
David E. Hamm
Arnold Dale Teal
Dec. 10, 1920 – April 9, 2016
Feb. 13, 1951 – April 18, 2016
David E. Hamm, 95, of
Dallas, died April 9 in Dallas.
He was born in Chicago to
Henry D. Hamm and Susan
Fast Hamm.
David graduated from
Dallas High School and
went on to graduate from
the Bible Institute of Los An-
geles (now BIOLA Universi-
ty).
He married Evelyn D.
Russell in Corvallis on June
27, 1943. Together they were
missionaries for 26 years in
Chile.
He was the founder and
pastor for three years of the
Keizer Community Church.
David retired as a pastor
with the Evangelical Free
Church.
He was a member of the
Evangelical Bible Church in
Dallas. He enjoyed wood-
working and cooking, espe-
cially waffles.
He was preceded in death
by his wife, Evelyn on Feb. 2,
2013.
Survivors include his son,
Leroy Hamm, of Carm-
ichael, Calif.; two grandchil-
dren; and four great-grand-
children.
Memorial service is May 7
at 10:30 a.m. at the Evangel-
ical Bible Church in Dallas.
Private interment was at
Dallas Cemetery.
Contributions are sug-
gested to the Gospel Mission
of South America in care of
the Dallas Mortuary Tribute
Center, which handled
arrangements.
To send an online tribute:
www.dallastribute.com.
Arnold Dale Teal, 65, of
Falls City, died April 18.
He loved spending time
with his grandkids and fami-
ly.
His was preceded in death
by his twin brother Ronald
in 2014.
Survivors include his wife,
Jeraldine “Dennie” Horner
Teal; son, Brian Youtz; sis-
ters, Rob-
bin Gaskill
and Kim
Griffith;
four grand-
children;
and ex-
tended
family.
Service
has been
held.
Dallas
Mo r t u a r y
Tr i b u t e
Center handled arrange-
ments.
To send an online tribute:
www.dallastribute.com.
Bill Hale Sr.
April 16, 1932 – April 17, 2016
Bill Hale Sr., 84, of Dallas,
died April 17.
He was born to Leslie and
Olive (Cull) Hale in West-
hope, N.D.
He ser-
ved in the
U.S. Navy
and had a
long career
in law enforcement.
Bill served as chief of po-
lice in many areas within
Oregon.
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He enjoyed hunting, fish-
ing, camping and tending to
his garden.
Survivors include his
daughters, Jeanne, of Parker,
S.D., Debbie, of Dallas, and
Brenda, of Stayton; sons, Bil-
lie Jr., of McMinnville, and
Steve, of Salem; 12 grand-
children; and nine great-
grandchildren.
Private Service will be
held. Contributions are sug-
gested to hospice.
Kathleen
Robertson Hoch
Vacaville, Calif.; daughter,
Alison (Tony) Thiessen, of
Dallas; and two grandchil-
dren. Husband, Andrew
Hoch, died on Nov. 21, 2003.
A celebration of Kath-
leen’s life will be on Saturday
at 2 p.m. at Dallas Mortuary
Tribute Center. Private inter-
ment will be in Evergreen
Cemetery in Bisbee.
Memorials may be made
to Bible Study Fellowship in
care of Dallas Mortuary Trib-
ute Center, who handled
arrangements.
To leave an online tribute:
www.dallastribute.com.
Sept. 18, 1931 – April 23, 2016
Kathleen Robertson
Hoch, 84, of Dallas, died on
Saturday.
She was born in Bisbee,
Ariz., to William and Kath-
leen Steven.
Kathleen
graduated
from Bis-
b e e Hi g h
School, at-
tended
Mills Col-
lege in
Oakland,
Calif., for two years, and
then enrolled at the Univer-
sity of Arizona where she
studied elementary educa-
tion.
She joined the Delta
Gamma Sorority at the U of
A. Kathleen taught fifth- and
sixth-grade students in the
Palo Alto School District.
She married Andrew Hoch
on Oct. 8, 1955, in Bisbee.
They lived all over California.
After Andrew died in
2003, Kathleen moved to
Dallas. She enjoyed being
closer to her family.
She enjoyed gardening,
shopping, boogie boarding,
and movies.
She was especially inter-
ested in politics. She en-
joyed traveling with her hus-
band and loved the Califor-
nia and Oregon coast high-
ways. Kathleen attended the
Evangelical Bible Church in
Dallas. She was involved in
Bible Study Fellowship.
She is survived by son,
Andrew (Barbara) Hoch, of
LUCKIAMUTE
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Robert Homer
Ross
March 18, 1920 – April 19, 2016
Robert Homer Ross, 96, of
Monmouth, died April 19.
He was born in Monett,
Mo., to Otto and Alta Ross.
Robert’s life will be cele-
brated privately.
Farnstrom Mortuary in
Independence handled
arrangements.
To send an online tribute:
www.FarnstromMortuary.
com.
Ronald Lee
Anderson
July 20, 1957 – April 18, 2016
Ronald Lee Anderson, 58,
of Monmouth, died April 18
in Monmouth.
Survivors include his son,
Jason Weisensee, of Mon-
mouth; daughter, Monesia
Kern, of Grants Pass; and
four grandchildren.
Sterling James
Trowbridge
Dec. 29, 1952 – April 24, 2016
Service for Sterling James
Trowbridge, 63, of Dallas, is
Saturday at 11 a.m. at St.
Philip Catholic Church in
Dallas.
Howell, Edwards, Doerk-
sen in Salem handled
arrangements. To send an
online tribute: www.hed-
fh.com.
Jeffrey Randall
Holly
Aug. 13, 1970 – April 15, 2016
Jeffrey Randall Holly, 45, of
Monmouth, died April 15. A
gathering will be held Satur-
day at the Holly Farm.
Monday 7:00 p.m.
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