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... an advertised bed, in advertised pajamas. 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 ADVERTISED WATCH. He’ll ride to work in his ADVERTISED CAR, sit at an 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 Advertising is an investment, not an expense. Think about it! Blue Mountain Eagle MyEagleNews.com Don’t get left behind, call today! Kim Kell 541-575-0710 Showing Movies Since 1940! 1809 1st Street • Baker City  NOW SHOWING  SHOW TIMES NOT AVAILABLE BY PUBLICATION DEADLINE For Show Times Please Call (541) 523-2522 or visit www.eltrym.com **SHOWTIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR CALL AHEAD TO VERIFY** www.eltrym.com (541) 523-2522 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. Serving Eastern Oregon since 1959! Pharmacy • Hallmark Cards • Gifts • Liquor Store Heppner Condon Boardman (541) 676-9158 (541) 256-1200 (541) 481-9474 www.MurraysDrug.com