NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
A5
McKrola lawyer wants separate juries
By STEVEN MITCHELL
Blue Mountain Eagle
CANYON CITY — A
hearing on a motion to have
separate juries for a Mt. Ver-
non man accused of 20 sex-re-
lated charges and 10 other
off enses spanning a period
from 2015 to 2020 began
on Thursday, June 16, at the
Grant County Courthouse.
Robert Moon, the defense
attorney for Brogan C. McK-
rola, 23, argued Thursday
that the conviction rate for
jurors in similar cases is
19% higher than normal. He
argued that jurors, who are
given special instructions to
judge each case on its merits,
are more apt vote to convict
when there is a large num-
ber of counts involved in one
case.
Special Deputy District
Steven Mitchell/Blue Mountain Eagle
Brogan McKrola is escorted to the courtroom Thursday, June 16,
2022, at the Grant County Courthouse.
Attorney Tobias Tingleaf is
pushing the court to deny the
request, and he argued the
move could adversely impact
victims.
In one case, McKrola
stands accused of six counts
of fi rst-degree rape, one
count of fi rst-degree kidnap-
ping, one count of fi rst-de-
gree sodomy, one count of
fi rst-degree unlawful sex-
ual penetration, one count of
attempted fi rst-degree sod-
omy, four counts of fi rst-de-
gree sexual abuse, one
count of second-degree sex-
ual abuse, three counts of
third-degree sexual abuse,
one count of luring a minor
and one count of harassment,
along with two counts of
fi rst-degree aggravated ani-
mal abuse.
The alleged crimes were
committed between June
1, 2015, and Dec. 4, 2020,
according to a secret indict-
ment fi led May 25 in Grant
County Circuit Court by Tin-
gleaf, a senior assistant attor-
ney general with the Oregon
Department of Justice who
is prosecuting the case on
behalf of the Grant County
District Attorney’s Offi ce.
The indictment listed at
least nine diff erent alleged
victims, for six of whom the
related charges were said to
involve “forcible compul-
sion.” Two of the alleged vic-
tims were said to have been
“incapable of consent by rea-
son of mental incapacita-
tion,” and two were minors
at the time of the alleged
off enses.
Thirteen of the charges are
Measure 11 off enses, which
carry mandatory minimum
sentences of at least six years
with no possibility for any
sentence reduction.
The animal abuse charges
allegedly occurred between
July 1 and Sept. 30, 2020, and
involved the unlawful torture
and killing of a porcupine.
In the other case, McK-
rola is accused of fi rst-degree
rape, fi rst-degree sodomy,
fi rst-degree sexual abuse,
second-degree kidnapping,
three counts of strangulation
and furnishing alcohol to a
person under 21.
Those crimes allegedly
took place on Dec. 20, 2020,
and involved a single vic-
tim, according to an amended
indictment fi led March 1 by
Grant County District Attor-
ney Jim Carpenter.
McKrola’s defense attor-
ney fi led a demurrer, seek-
ing to dismiss the charge of
luring and some of the other
lesser charges. Circuit Court
Judge Daina Vitolins said
she is inclined to grant the
demurrer. Tingleaf asked
Vitolins for the opportunity
to argue such a decision. The
next hearing is scheduled for
July 6 at 2 p.m.
12:32 p.m.: Responded to
Patterson Bridge Road, John
Day, for a suspicious person.
1:33 p.m.: Responded to
Dollar General, John Day, for a
disorderly person. Subject was
trespassed.
3:29 p.m.: Responded to
Highway 26 near milepost 166
for a livestock complaint.
June 11
8:44 a.m.: Advised of a
motor vehicle vs. deer colli-
sion on Highway 395 South
near milepost 8C. No injuries
reported.
9:13 a.m.: Advised of a pos-
sible missing camper at Bull
Prairie Campground.
10:58 a.m.: Responded to
Canyon City to assist with ‘62
Days Parade.
3:40 p.m.: Responded to
Highway 26 near milepost 146
to remove fallen rocks from the
highway.
COPS AND COURTS
Circuit Court
June 7
Jessica Lynn Offi cer of John
Day was found guilty of con-
tempt of court and sentenced to
10 days in jail.
June 8
Storm Losee Mensch, 23,
of Mt. Vernon was convicted
of fi rst-degree theft and felon in
possession of a fi rearm in con-
nection with an incident that
happened on April 11. Two
additional counts of fi rst-de-
gree theft were dismissed. He
was sentenced to three years
of supervised probation, 90
days in jail with credit for time
served and 80 hours of com-
munity service or work crew
time. He was also ordered to
obtain a substance abuse eval-
uation, complete all recom-
mended treatment and refrain
from using intoxicants for the
duration of his probation.
June 9
Elina Kaulins, 50, of Col-
lege Station, Texas, pleaded
guilty to a charge of failure to
perform the duties of a driver in
an accident with property dam-
age in connection with an inci-
dent that happened on Aug. 24.
An additional charge of driving
under the infl uence of intox-
icants was dismissed, along
with a second count of fail-
ure to perform the duties of a
driver. Caulins was sentenced
to 18 months of bench pro-
bation and 40 hours of com-
munity service or work crew
time and was ordered to pay
$1,907.30 in restitution. Her
driver’s license was suspended
for 90 days.
Shannon Kay Kinsman,
60, of Kingman, Arizona, was
convicted of driving under the
infl uence of intoxicants in con-
nection with an incident that
happened Dec. 28. Her driver’s
license was suspended for one
year and she was sentenced to
18 months of bench probation
and 48 hours in jail with credit
for time served. She was also
ordered to obtain a substance
abuse assessment, complete all
recommended treatment, install
an ignition interlock device in
her vehicle and not use intox-
icants for the duration of her
probation.
Oregon State Police
June 13
11:06 a.m.: Trooper stopped
a Jeep Cherokee for traffi c vio-
lations on Highway 26 near
milepost 162. After a fi eld
sobriety test, the driver was
taken to the Grant County Jail,
where his blood alcohol level
reportedly measured 0.13%.
Jeremiah Obadiah Gwalthney,
44, of John Day was cited on
charges of driving under the
infl uence, driving while sus-
pended, failure to install an
ignition interlock device and
speeding (44/25 zone).
Grant County Sheriff
The Grant County Sheriff ’s
Offi ce reported the following
for the week ending June 15:
Concealed
handgun
licenses: 8
Average inmates: 14
Bookings: 4
Releases: 6
Arrests: 0
Citations: 1
Fingerprints: 8
Civil papers: 14
Warrants processed: 0
Assist/welfare check: 1
Search and rescue: 0
Justice Court
The Grant County Justice
Court reported the following
activity for the week ending
June 15:
Traffi c citations fi led: 10
Cases on probation: 40
Hearings held: 8
Driver’s license suspen-
sions: 18
Violation of the basic rule:
Stanley C. Lochrie, 71, West
Linn, May 20, 80/55 zone,
fi ned $265; Kassidy L. Wil-
liams, 21, John Day, May 20,
84/55 zone, fi ned $265.
Driving while suspended or
revoked: Justin Alan Scheide-
gger, 27, John Day, Feb. 23,
fi ned $440; Jim E. Roba, 47,
Dayville, May 26, fi ned $440;
Joseph Scott Baker, 24, Prairie
City, May 12, fi ned $440; Cyn-
thia Pacifi co, 53, San Diego,
May 10, fi ned $440; Paul
Davis, 44, Redmond, May 9,
fi ned $440.
Driving uninsured: Jus-
tin Alan Scheidegger, 27, John
Day, Feb. 23, fi ned $265; Jim
E. Roba, 47, Dayville, May 26,
fi ned $265; Joseph Scott Baker,
24, Prairie City, May 12, fi ned
$265; Matthew Aaron McKay,
32, John Day, May 20, fi ned
$265; Paul Davis, 44, Red-
mond, May 9, fi ned $265.
No operator’s license: Mat-
thew Aaron McKay, 32, John
Day, May 20, fi ned $265.
Open container of alco-
hol: Cynthia Pacifi co, 53, San
Diego, May 10, fi ned $440;
Paul Davis, 44, Redmond, May
9, fi ned $265; Matthew Aaron
McKay, 32, John Day, May 20,
fi ned $265.
Failure to register vehicle:
Kassidy Lee Williams, 21, John
Day, May 1, fi ned $115.
Failure to report an accident
(driver): Joseph Scott Baker,
24, Prairie City, May 12, fi ned
$440.
Failure to yield: Terri
Denice Pine, 57, Baker City,
April 26, fi ned $265.
Failure to properly use
safety belt: Jim E. Roba, 47,
Dayville, May 26, fi ned $115.
Refusing to take a test
for intoxicants: Justin Alan
Scheidegger, 27, John Day,
Feb. 24, fi ned $650.
Dispatch
A MAN
WAKES
UP in the
morning
after sleeping on...
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He will bathe in an ADVERTISED TUB, shave with an ADVERTISED RAZOR,
have a breakfast of ADVERTISED JUICE, cereal and toast, toasted in an
ADVERTISED TOASTER, put on ADVERTISED CLOTHES and glance at his
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ADVERTISED DESK and write with an ADVERTISED PEN. Yet this person
hesitates to advertise, saying that advertising doesn’t pay. Finally, when his
non-advertised business is going under, HE’LL ADVERTISE IT FOR SALE.
Then it’s too late.
AND THEY SAY ADVERTISING DOESN’T WORK?
DON’T MAKE THIS SAME MISTAKE
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Blue Mountain Eagle
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S286526-1
Arrests and citations in the
Blue Mountain Eagle are taken
from the logs of law enforce-
ment agencies. Every eff ort is
made to report the court dispo-
sition of arrest cases.
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE GATE
Grant County dispatch
worked 126 calls during
the week ending June 15,
including:
• Oregon State Police
June 9
11:14 a.m.: Responded with
Grant County Sheriff ’s Offi ce
to Highway 26 near milepost
180 for a driving complaint.
1:24 p.m.: Advised of a
road hazard on Highway 26
near milepost 183.
June 10
10:20 a.m.: Advised of a
driving complained on High-
way 395 South near Seneca.
• Grant County Sheriff
June 9
8:07 a.m.: Responded to
the Grant County Courthouse,
Canyon City, for a dispute.
11:39 p.m.:
Responded
to Juniper Ridge Acute Care
Facility, John Day, for a miss-
ing person report.
June 10
1:08 a.m.: Responded to the
Elkhorn Motel, John Day, for a
suspicious person.
10:07 a.m.: Responded to
South Fork Road, Dayville, for
a harassment complaint.
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