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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (April 25, 2018)
News Blue Mountain Eagle Ferguson faces new sex crime charges A former Grant County resident who pleaded guilty to sex crimes last year faces new charges in a different county against the same victim. Chancee Ferguson, 29, of Bend was indicted by a Wheeler County grand jury July 12, 2017, for two counts of first-degree sodomy and one count of first-degree sex- ual abuse against a single vic- tim younger than 12 in 2006. Wheeler County Judge Janet L. Stauffer denied Fer- guson’s motion to have the new charges dismissed April 17 — concluding that a 2017 plea agreement in Grant County did not settle the Wheeler County matters. Ferguson had been indict- ed in Grant County Circuit Court Jan. 20, 2017, on 11 counts of sex crimes against a single underage victim for incidents in 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2011. Ferguson reached an agreement with the prosecu- tors and pleaded guilty May 18, 2017, to one felony, at- tempting to commit first-de- gree sexual abuse, and two misdemeanor charges of sexu- al misconduct. The charges to which he pleaded guilty were committed in 2004 when Fer- guson was also younger than 18, and the other eight counts were dismissed as part of the agreement. He was sentenced to 364 days in jail and five years of supervised probation and was ordered to complete a sexual offender treatment program and register as a sex offender. After the Wheeler Coun- ty indictment was filed in John Day man arrested following traffic stop By Richard Hanners Blue Mountain Eagle A John Day man has been charged with two felony drug charges following a traffic stop on Highway 395 north of Mt. Vernon and a search of his vehicle that turned up a large quantity of methamphet- amine. According to the Oregon State Police, Mathew Walk- er, 34, was Mathew charged with Walker possession of methamphet- amine and delivery of meth- amphetamine. He is being held in the Grant County Jail. OSP stopped a silver Dodge Stratus for a traffic violation at about 2:40 p.m. April 16 and Walker, who was driving, initially consent- ed to a search of his vehicle, according to OSP. During the search, marijuana, marijuana paraphernalia and a partial- ly consumed bottle of tequi- la were found, after which Walker revoked consent and was arrested for a probation violation, OSP said. The vehicle was seized and a drug canine from OSP was deployed. The dog alerted to the presence of a controlled substance, and the Grant County Interagency Narcotics Team served a search warrant Contributed photo About 4.3 ounces of methamphetamine, along with drug paraphernalia, was discovered during a warrant search of a silver Dodge Stratus stopped on Highway 395 north of Mt. Vernon April 16, according to Oregon State Police. on the vehicle, according to a press release by Grant County Undersheriff Zach Mobley. “During the search of the vehicle, methamphetamine paraphernalia and about a quarter pound of metham- Theft charges against city cashier dismissed through agreement Blue Mountain Eagle Charges against the former city of John Day cashier accused of theft were dismissed as part of a civil compromise April 12. Janine A. Weaver, 35, Mt. Vernon, was indicted Dec. 29, 2017, on one charge of first-degree theft and one charge of first-degree official miscon- duct for theft from the city of John Day. According to a Jan. 2 press release A3 Quarter-pound of meth found in man’s car July 2017, Ferguson’s new attorney, Jerrett Glass, filed a motion to dismiss the charges on the grounds of contract law, breach of contract and due process — claiming the Wheeler County charges were settled in the Grant County plea agreement. Judge Stauffer found that there was no written evidence the stipulated Grant County plea included any other coun- ties; that the Wheeler County district attorney did not stip- ulate to the settlement; and that the Grant County district attorney testified the statutory procedures for global settle- ments were not followed. She also found that attorney Rob Raschio, who represented Ferguson in the Grant County matters, did not consult with the Wheeler County district attorney and that Raschio testified he erred in not fol- lowing the global settlement statutes. Stauffer concluded, while the parties in the Grant County settlement may have believed they were settling matters regarding allegations in other coun- ties, the Grant County pros- ecutors “had no apparent or actual authority” to do so. She said Raschio should have known the Wheeler County matter would not be settled without compliance with the global settlement statutes or further agree- ment by the Wheeler Coun- ty district attorney. The judge also stated in the order, “Similar charges may be filed in other coun- ties involving alleged crimes by this defendant against (the victim) within the boundaries of those counties.” By Sean Hart Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, April 25, 2018 from the district attorney’s office, Weaver allegedly took about $1,700 in cash receipts. John Day City Manager Nick Green signed an April 4 affidavit stating he “received full and complete satisfac- tion regarding the city’s claim against (Weaver).” He stated he received au- thority from the John Day City Coun- cil to settle the matter for the amount agreed upon, but the terms were sealed. Judge William D. Cramer Jr. granted Weaver’s motion to dismiss as a civil compromise April 12. Before the civil compromise was reached, a restitution document filed in court by Grant County District Attorney Jim Carpenter Feb. 12 showed $713.83 payable to CIS for an insurance claim after the deductible and $7,113 to the city of John Day, including a $1,000 insurance deductible and an accounting investigation fee of $6,113. phetamine was seized from the vehicle,” Mobley said. The narcotics team esti- mated the street value of the seized methamphetamine at about $12,900. Cinco de Mayo Train Ride! Delicious Mexican Food Fantastic Grande Ronde Scenery! May 5, 11 a.m. Elgin, Oregon Mother’s Day Brunch May 13 Book online, eaglecaptrainrides.com or call 800.323.7330 Thank You Vote for TANNER ELLIOTT for Grant County Commissioner • Fresh perspective on issues facing Grant County • Bringing a new voice to the County Court • Self funding campaign • Bringing idealism and youth Every other Monday in John Day at Blue Mountain Hospital • No conflict of interest- No lobbyist backing 170 Ford Rd. • 541-575-1311 Paid for by Tanner Elliott During my recent stay at Blue Mountain Hospital I received the best hometown healthcare, and am now home and doing well. I would like to sincerely thank the doctors and nursing staff, as well as the maintenance, housekeeping, kitchen, and lab departments for their special care. Everyone was so considerate. Thank you also for my surprise going-away party, with the help of Home Health. I would also like to thank everyone who came to visit me or sent cards or flowers. 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