LOCAL
THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021
COUNCIL
nity is not currently being
heard by our state leadership.
Continued from Page 1A
We are asking for a seat at
In the letter, Spriet wrote
the table, a voice for our citi-
that Baker City’s small busi- zens, and an opportunity to
nesses during the pandemic
provide input to restrictions
“have been forced to weather that have a profound effect on
this monumental obstacle
our rural communities.”
with very little assistance
All council members will
from the state or federal
sign the letter before it is sent
government.”
to Brown.
Spriet wrote that city coun-
Lodging tax work group
cilors feel that state restric-
In other business Tuesday,
tions “should be regularly
councilors voted unanimously
updated with input from
to participate in a city-county
all Oregon residents across
work group that will review
the state, using sound and
the lodging tax system.
repeatable scientifi c data, lo-
County Commissioner
cal medical capacity informa- Mark Bennett proposed
tion, and a reasonable level of the six-member group, half
common sense based on the
appointed by the county and
needs and desires of the local half by the City Council,
community.”
during a March 3 county
Spriet also cited the state’s meeting.
2020 goal to make Oregon “a
Mayor Kerry McQuisten
more equitable place for every said the work group will be
Oregon” in part by having
looking at the entire lodging
state offi cials work closely
tax program, which currently
with community leaders.
uses taxes paid by guests
“We do not currently feel
at motels and other lodging
that this element of the
establishments for tourism
framework is being realized,” promotion and economic
Spriet wrote. “Our commu-
development.
McQuisten recently sug-
gested the city withdraw
from a 2006 agreement with
the county under which the
county administers the tax
program.
Councilors voted 4-3 on
Feb. 23 to remain in that
agreement.
On Tuesday McQuisten
asked councilors to email her
if they’re interested in serving
on the work group.
Also on Tuesday’s agenda:
• Councilors approved the
2021 capital projects plans for
the city’s water, wastewater
and stormwater systems, as
well as the pavement man-
agement plan.
According to a staff report
submitted by Public Works
Director Michelle Owen, this
year’s water plan focuses on
continuing the long-term
project to replace the city’s
main water supply line from
the watershed to town.
For the pavement plan, the
city plans to repave Wash-
ington Avenue from Clark to
Birch street.
• Councilors approved the
BAKER CITY HERALD — 3A
online sale of surplus items
from the city’s public works
department, with an amend-
ment to remove from the
surplus list fi berglass candy
cane street decorations, and
playground equipment.
Owen said Shelly Cutler,
director of the Baker County
Chamber of Commerce, has
offered to buy the candy
canes in the public works
surplus.
“The idea was to sell the
candy canes so that we could
afford to purchase new items
for Campbell Street,” Owen
said.
Councilor Joanna Dixon
said she wanted to see if
another park could use the
playground equipment.
• The Council voted 4-3 to
appoint Beverly Calder to the
Public Works Advisory Com-
mittee. The other applicant
was Gary Carter.
Councilors Shane Alderson,
Lynette Perry, Heather Sells
and Spriet voted for Calder.
Councilors Dixon, Johnny
Waggoner Jr. and McQuisten
voted for Carter.
North Powder halibut feed a drive-thru event April 17
NORTH POWDER — The annual
halibut feed at North Powder, a fun-
draiser for volleyball and girls bas-
ketball teams at Powder Valley High
School, is planned for Saturday, April
17, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The event will be a drive-thru, and
tickets are limited to 600. Tickets go
on sale March 18 and are $25 each for
a menu that includes halibut, baked
potato, French bread, coleslaw and
dessert.
To have your name added to a wait-
ing list for tickets, call the high school
at 541-898-2244, extension 8821.
Specify the number of tickets sought
and the half-hour time slot for picking
up the meals.
Newberg man
hurt in crash
on Highway 7
Ram 2500 pickup truck
pulling a gooseneck stock
A Newberg man remains trailer. Patricia Marlene
hospitalized and was
Engle, 73, of Monument,
listed in fair condition
was traveling with him.
Wednesday, March 10, at
They were not hurt.
Saint Alphonsus Medical
Schuette said Galvan
Center in Boise where he
was driving north, and as
is being treated for injuries he negotiated a corner near
he sustained in a March 5 Old Auburn Road, his ve-
crash on Highway 7 near
hicle left the lane of travel
Old Auburn Road, about 5 for an unknown reason and
miles south of Baker City. swerved back and forth
Jesse Manuel Galvan,
between the two lanes.
40, was fl own by Life
Gary Engle said he saw
Flight helicopter to the
the vehicle driving errati-
Boise hospital after being
cally as it came toward his
extricated from his 1998
pickup and he slowed and
Subaru Legacy sedan by
moved as far to the right as
a Baker City ambulance
possible to avoid a crash.
crew, Oregon State Police
Galvan’s car hit the
Trooper Timothy Schuette front of the pickup truck
stated in a report.
as it slid broadside in the
Speed and driver impair- opposite lane of travel,
ment are being investigat- damaging the driver’s side
ed as factors in the crash,
of the car.
he said.
Traffi c on the two-lane
The two-vehicle crash
highway was blocked for
happened about 4:30 p.m. more than half an hour to
March 5.
allow for the crash inves-
The second vehicle, driv- tigation and to remove the
en by Gary Waldo Engle,
vehicles from the scene,
77, of Monument, was a
Schuette said.
By Chris Collins
ccollins@bakercityherald.com
Baker man arrested on multiple drug charges
By Chris Collins
ccollins@bakercityherald.com
Baker City Police arrested a Baker
City man Monday, March 8, on mul-
tiple crimes tied to distributing drugs
in the community.
Loren Dean Alexander Prevo, 32, is
being held at the Baker County Jail
on charges of third-degree assault,
criminal conspiracy, coercion, tamper-
ing with a witness, delivery and pos-
session of methamphetamine, heroin
and oxycodone and possession of a
restricted weapon, Lt. Ty Duby stated
in a press release. The weapon was a
Taser, Duby said.
Members of the Baker County
PRISON
Continued from Page 1A
Sixty-two other counts
against Cernazanu were
dismissed, including more
charges of second-degree en-
couraging child sexual abuse,
fi rst-degree encouraging child
sexual abuse, fi rst-degree
invasion of personal privacy
and using a child in sexually
explicit conduct.
Cernazanu was ordered
to complete three year’s
post-prison supervision upon
release. Shirtcliff also ordered
Cernazanu to complete sex
offender treatment upon
release and to register as a
sex offender.
Baxter and Robert Moon,
a Baker City attorney who
was appointed to represent
Cernazanu, each called wit-
nesses to bolster their case.
Baxter argued for the 15-year
sentence, and Moon called for
a shorter prison term.
An audience of about 30
people, including law enforce-
ment and mental health
professionals, and victims
and their family members,
were in the courtroom during
the two-hour hearing.
Cernazanu was arrested
April 24, 2020, at his Baker
City home after an investiga-
tion by the state Department
of Justice and the Oregon
State Police (OSP). OSP had
served search warrants at
Cernazanu’s home on Feb.
19, 2020, in which digital evi-
dence, including computers
and phones, were seized and
later analyzed by the Depart-
ment of Justice.
The investigation began
when Google reported sexu-
ally explicit photos of a young
person to the national center
for Missing and Exploited
Children. The allegations
were next taken to the Inter-
net Crimes Against Children
Task Force, which identifi ed
Cernazanu as a suspect.
Narcotics Enforcement
Team, with help from
the Baker City Police
Department’s K-9 Capa,
executed a search war-
rant on Prevo and his
Prevo
vehicle at the corner
of Fourth and Place
streets.
Through the investigation and
search, Duby said “a substantial
amount of methamphetamine was lo-
cated along with other items indicative
of narcotics distribution.”
In addition to the methamphet-
amine, police seized more than a user
amount of heroin and numerous pills
“This is a horrible
amount of child
pornography, which is
a huge problem in our
society.”
— Judge Matt Shirtcliff, who
sentenced David Cernazanu
to a 15-year prison term
What they found was “an
astronomical amount of child
pornography,” Baxter said
during Tuesday’s proceedings.
He argued that, through
his crimes, Cernazanu had
violated not only his victims,
but also their parents and the
community who had put their
trust in him.
Baxter asked the judge to
take into consideration that
among the victims were eight
local children, four of whom
were in the courtroom Tues-
day. Baxter said parents had
trusted Cernazanu, who had
worked in a position of au-
thority as a guard at Powder
River Correctional Facility
since 2017 and had served as
a reserve offi cer for the Baker
City Police Department for
a short time. The girls came
to his home as friends of his
daughter, who also was vic-
timized, the district attorney
said.
The victims have suffered
depression, suicidal thoughts,
anorexia and negative feel-
ings of self-worth as a result
of Cernazanu’s crimes,
Baxter said.
“He deserves to be pun-
ished,” he said. “These girls
deserve justice and Mr.
Cernazanu needs to be held
accountable for his actions.”
Baxter said he submitted a
confi dential memorandum to
the court listing the victims’
names and further detail-
ing the sexual nature of the
videos Cernazanu had taken.
The victims were fi lmed with-
out their knowledge while
sleeping at the Cernazanu
identified as oxycodone, a schedule II
controlled substance, Duby said.
Police also had probable cause to ar-
rest Prevo on the additional charges in
connection with a February incident in
which Prevo and others are accused of
assaulting and injuring Sean Michael
Dethloff, 23, and Markus Damian
Dethloff, 21, both of Haines, according
to court records. Markus Dethloff was
taken to the hospital for treatment, the
court records state.
The assault took place at the
Knights Inn at 2205 Broadway St.,
Duby said.
Prevo has no fixed address but had
been staying most recently at 1690
home and in various stages
of undress in the bedroom
and bathroom with cameras
placed at strategic locations
in the home.
Baxter stated that he ac-
cepted the plea agreement in
the best interest of the eight
teenage girls, ages 13 to 17 at
the time, who were victimized
by Cernazanu. Baxter said he
has spoken to fi ve of the girls.
“Talking with family
members, I do believe their
testimony would cause
new trauma and open new
wounds,” Baxter said.
The district attorney said
that without the plea agree-
ment, Cernazanu, had he
been convicted on all counts,
would have faced a life sen-
tence.
A jury trial had been sched-
uled to begin June 1, 2021.
Cernazanu’s daughter
spoke to her father during
Tuesday’s hearing.
“I forgive you and still love
you so much,” she said.
But in his treatment to-
ward her and her friends, she
reminded him of what he had
always told her while she was
growing up: “Actions speak
louder than words.”
She told him of the night-
mares she lives with and the
guilt she carries because of
his actions.
“I blame myself for these
other girls,” she said.
She detailed the experi-
ences she’ll have without her
father by her side, including
her high school graduation.
She said she plans to go
to college and to study to
become a caseworker to help
other kids in the future.
“I wish nothing but the
best for you,” she told her fa-
ther. “I wish you had been in
court so I could have hugged
you goodbye.”
Cernazanu participated
in the hearing by video from
the jail.
Thomas McLay, Powder
Indiana Ave., Duby said. The Baker
County Narcotics Enforcement Team
executed a narcotics-related search
warrant at that address on Sept. 15,
2020. During that search police found
a quantity of methamphetamine, sto-
len property and firearms. Prevo was
not at the house when the warrant
was executed, Duby stated.
Prevo had earlier been staying at
the Torrance Apartments at 1604
Fourth St. Community members had
complained to police about possible
drug trafficking at the Indiana Avenue
and the Fourth Street properties
where Prevo had been staying, Duby
said.
River superintendent, was
one of the fi rst to speak
in support of the 15-year
sentence. McLay said morale
among staff at the minimum-
security prison has been
affected by Cernazanu’s
criminal behavior.
“We are sworn to uphold
the law and protect the citi-
zens of Oregon,” McLay said
of his employees.
Amy Ford, an OSP detec-
tive, also asked the judge to
uphold the longer sentence.
“What is reported is typi-
cally the tip of the iceberg,”
she said.
Moon, the defense at-
torney who represented
Cernazanu, argued for a
fi ve-year prison term that
would have allowed his client
to more quickly enroll in sex
offender treatment, which is
not available in prison, upon
release. Moon pointed to
mitigating factors supporting
the lighter sentence, includ-
ing Cernazanu’s lack of any
prior criminal history and his
military service.
He also submitted a
detailed memorandum to the
court that described Cerna-
zanu’s early childhood sexual
abuse, trauma experienced
During the investigation, officers
found numerous tools that they believe
were possibly stolen, Duby said. Police
were unable to connect the stolen
items to any recent burglaries or thefts
for lack of identifying marks or serial
numbers, Duby said.
Officers did find a yellow tape
measure with the initials VS on it and
a DeWalt 20-volt battery that has blue
paint and the name Josh written on it,
he said.
Duby reminded community
residents that without serial numbers
or other identifying markings, it is
difficult for police to recover and return
stolen items.
in the military, his diffi cult
divorce from the mother of
his two children and other
details of his life that led
him to an addiction to child
pornography.
Zola Pike of John Day, a
DHS caseworker in Grant
County when Cernazanu was
a child, told the judge that
Cernazanu’s family’s case of
child sexual abuse and physi-
cal abuse and neglect was the
worst she had seen in her 30
years of social work.
Cernazanu’s adopted
mother, Jeanette “Tootie”
Cernazanu, of John Day,
who with her husband, Jim,
adopted the sibling family of
four, described the diffi culties
Cernazanu has experienced
throughout his life.
And Laura Zorich, a
licensed clinical psychologist,
who appeared by video, advo-
cated for the shorter sentence
in order to accommodate
treatment for Cernazanu as
soon as possible. Zorich said
the earlier he can receive
treatment, the less likely
it would be that he would
reoffend. She said she would
expect the risk to be low, as
it is for most child pornogra-
phy offenders, at about 2.8%
within fi ve years.
Cernazanu offered his own
apology to his victims and
their family members.
“I did not mean to hurt
anyone,” he said.
He pleaded with the judge
for the more lenient sentence.
“Please allow me to be with
my kids as they grow up,” he
said.
In announcing his decision,
Judge Shirtcliff sympathized
with the hardships Cerna-
zanu has suffered in his life,
noting the mitigating factors
of Cernazanu’s own abuse as
a child and trauma he expe-
rienced in the military. But
the judge said he had to look
toward community safety in
sentencing the defendant to
the harsher prison term.
“This is a horrible amount
of child pornography, which
is a huge problem in our
society,” Shirtcliff said.
“The harm or loss is great,”
he said, pointing to the trau-
ma the girls have suffered
and Cernazanu’s violation
of the trust parents put in
him when they allowed their
daughters to visit his home.
“That will not be tolerated
in this community,” Shirtcliff
said.
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