MyEagleNews.com
NEWS
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
A5
Bonamici bill seeks public defender aid
By PETER WONG
Oregon Capital Bureau
WASHINGTON — U.S.
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici pro-
poses $250 million in fed-
eral grants to help pay for and
address a shortage of public
defenders nationwide.
Though the Ensuring Qual-
ity Access to Legal (EQUAL)
Defense Act is unlikely to
become law in the short
post-election session of Con-
gress, it could form the basis for
a law in the 118th Congress or
be attached to must-pass legis-
lation. Control of the House will
pass from a narrow Democratic
to a narrow Republican majority
after Jan. 3.
In addition to the grants, the
legislation would require collec-
tion of workload data and pay
parity between public defend-
ers and prosecutors within fi ve
years. An additional $5 million
is proposed for training grants
for government and nonprofi t
agencies.
Public defenders are often
inexperienced, overworked and
underpaid. Under a 1963 deci-
sion by the U.S. Supreme Court,
criminal defendants are enti-
tled to legal representation under
the Sixth Amendment to the
Constitution.
Bonamici, a Democrat from
Beaverton, was elected Nov. 8 to
a sixth full term from the 1st Dis-
trict seat of northwest Oregon.
She said in a statement that
she was following up on the
work of Rep. Ted Deutch, a
Democrat from Florida who
was in the U.S. House from
2010 until he resigned Sept. 30
to become chief executive offi -
cer of the American Jewish
Committee.
Her statement:
“Public defenders are an
essential part of our criminal jus-
tice system, and people accused
Blue Mountain Eagle, File
of a crime have a right to counsel.
“Right now, we have a dan- The Grant County Courthouse in Canyon City.
gerous shortage of public defend-
His statement in Bonamici’s
ers and the public defenders we eral grants under a 1988 pro-
do have are struggling under bur- gram to provide data on the release said this:
“Absent counsel, crimi-
densome caseloads and condi- extent to which the state is pro-
tions. My former colleague, Con- viding public defenders for indi- nal prosecutions cannot move
gressman Ted Deutch, previously gent people in the criminal jus- forward.
“Victim and defendant’s
led this legislation to improve tice system. The program is the
access to counsel nationally and Edward Byrne justice assistance rights are equally essential to the
limit unnecessary incarceration grants, which go to state and local administration of justice. When
there is a lack of existing public
costs. I’m leading the EQUAL governments.
Defense Act to fi nally secure the
• Reauthorize the student defenders to handle cases, hol-
resources that our public defend- loan program, increase the over- lowed pipelines of new attor-
ers and people in the criminal jus- all authorization amount from neys to enter the fi eld due to both
tice need and deserve.”
$25 million to $75 million, and expense and longterm fi nancial
Bonamici herself is a law- increase per-borrower repayment stability, victims and the accused
lose access to justice. The Ensur-
yer, and her husband is Michael limits.
ing Quality Access to Legal
Simon, a U.S. District Court
Shortage: ‘Urgent threat’ (EQUAL) Defense Act seeks to
judge in Portland. The proposed
Criminal charges have been remedy all of these issues, for
legislation, however, is aimed at
shoring up criminal defense rep- dismissed by judges in Mult- safer more just communities.”
Shortages of public defend-
resentation in the states. (Federal nomah County Circuit Court
public defenders fall under the against an estimated 300 defen- ers also have been reported else-
dants since February. District where in the state.
federal court system.)
The Oregon Offi ce of Public
In addition to the provisions Attorney Mike Schmidt said
mentioned above, the legislation Nov. 21 that the shortage consti- Defense Services, which over-
tuted an “urgent threat to public sees legal representation for
would do two other things:
criminal defendants, is in dis-
• Require recipients of fed- safety.”
Schmidt’s full statement
from Nov. 21 is below:
“In February of this year,
a Multnomah County Circuit
Court judge dismissed the fi rst
of what is now nearing 300
cases due to a lack of defense
counsel over my objection on
the basis of victims’ rights.
Every week since, case hearings
have been set over in the hopes
that a public defender may be
available at a future date, dis-
missed outright, or dismissed
after being set over, sometimes
even past the statute of limita-
tions for a given off ense.
“The courts are put in the
position of releasing defen-
dants without prosecutors hav-
ing so much as an opportunity
to request bail or release con-
ditions. And it’s not getting any
better. Just last week, a suspect
that allegedly ran a car into a
school bus of children, which
subsequently had to be evacu-
ated due to a leak caused by the
incident, was released within 24
hours of his arrest due to lack of
a defense counsel.”
“For nearly every defendant
without counsel, there are one
or more victims awaiting justice.
Months into this crisis, many
are still waiting for their day in
court while others have seen
their cases dismissed altogether.
This sends a message to crime
victims in our community that
justice is unavailable and their
harm will go unaddressed. It also
sends a message to individuals
who have committed a crime
that there is no accountability
while burning through scarce
police and prosecutor resources.
Every day that this crisis persists
presents an urgent and continu-
ing threat to public safety.”
“Prosecutors in my offi ce
have and will continue to issue
cases for prosecution and reis-
sue cases that have been dis-
missed as soon as we are able.
We refuse to turn our backs on
victims simply because one pil-
lar of our justice system is crum-
bling. Moreover, from this day
forward, my offi ce will publish
every case dismissed or set over
as a result of this crisis weekly
until it is resolved. The public
must be empowered with this
information to understand the
scope of this crisis.”
non and Clyde Holliday State
Park to assist a motorist with a
disabled vehicle.
• John Day Ambulance
Nov. 16
7:51 a.m.: Patient transport
to Boise.
Dispatched to East Fifth
St., Prairie City, for a patient
transport.
Nov. 18
12:25 a.m.: Patient transport
to Blue Mountain Hospital.
10:26 a.m.: Responded to
Highway 26 west of John Day for
a male patient having seizures.
5:02 p.m.: Patient transport
to Blue Mountain Hospital.
5:56 p.m.: Dispatched to the
airport for a patient transport.
Nov. 19
7:53 a.m.: Dispatched to
Charolais Heights for a medi-
cal call.
10:47 a.m.: Dispatched to
Trafton Lane for a medical call.
11:24 a.m.: Dispatched to
Riverside Mobile Home Park for
a medical call.
Nov. 21
1:39 p.m.: Dispatched to
Hillcrest Road for an 88-year-
old male who fell.
11:25 a.m.:
Dispatched
to West Third Street, Prairie
City, for an 83-year-old male
with a medical issue. Patient
transported.
Nov. 22
1:38 a.m.: Dispatched to
Northeast DaytonStreet for a
female with a fall injury.
6:01 p.m.: Dispatched to
Grant Union High School for a
medical issue.
7:36 p.m.: Dispatched to
Riverside Mobile Home Park for
a medical issue.
Nov. 23
3:48 a.m.: Dispatched to
Riverside Mobile Home Park for
an unresponsive male.
8:03 a.m.: Patient transport
to St. Luke’s Nampa Medical
Center.
• Prairie City Ambulance
Nov. 16
7:02 p.m.: Dispatched to
South Main Street fr a woman
with a possible alergic reac-
tion. John Day Ambulance also
responded.
array after a controversy ear-
lier this year that ultimately
resulted in a reconstituted Com-
mission on Public Defense Ser-
vices fi ring Stephen Singer after
just eight months as executive
director of the agency. When the
commission declined to fi re him
on Aug. 11, Oregon Chief Jus-
tice Martha Walters dismissed
all nine members on Aug. 16.
She reappointed four of them,
but the new commission then
voted 6-2 on Aug. 18 to fi re
Singer, who fi led suit against the
state on Oct. 11.
DA’s statement
COPS AND COURTS
Arrests and citations in the
Blue Mountain Eagle are taken
from the logs of law enforcement
agencies. Every effort is made to
report the court disposition of
arrest cases
Circuit Court
Nov. 17
Matthew Aaron McCain, 32,
of Prattville, Alabama, pleaded
guilty to driving under the influ-
ence in connection with a May
20 incident. An additional count
of reckless driving was dis-
missed. He was given a sus-
pended sentence of 180 days in
jail and placed on bench proba-
tion for 18 months. He was also
ordered to serve 48 hours in
jail with credit for time served
and fined $2,255. As condi-
tions of probation, McCain was
ordered to complete the Victim
Impact panel Program, obtain
a substance abuse evaluation
and complete all recommended
treatment, not use intoxicants
and install an ignition interlock
device on his vehicle.
Nov. 17
Justin Scheidegger, 28, of
John Day pleaded to one count
of driving under the influ-
ence and three counts of crimi-
nal driving while suspended or
revoked in connection with four
separate incidents that occurred
between Feb. 23 and Nov. 15 of
this year. Additional counts of
felon in possession of a firearm,
unlawful possession of a fire-
arm, resisting arrest and pos-
session of methamphetamine
were dismissed. Scheidegger
was sentenced to two years of
bench probation, ordered to
obtain a substance abuse eval-
uation and complete all recom-
mended treatment, not use or
possess intoxicants and perform
80 hours of community service
or work crew time. In addition,
he was fined $2,250 and ordered
to serve 35 days in jail, with
credit for time served.
Grant County Sheriff
The Grant County Sheriff’s
Office reported the following
for the week ending Nov. 23:
Concealed handgun licenses: 9
Average inmates: 9
Bookings: 3
Releases: 6
Arrests: 0
Citations: 4
Fingerprints: 9
Civil papers: 19
Warrants processed: 4
Assist/welfare check: 1
Search and rescue: 0
Dispatch
Grant
County
dispatch
worked 137 calls during the
week ending Nov. 23, including:
• Grant County Sheriff
Nov. 16
9:41 a.m.: Responded to
Starr Ridge for a non-injury
accident.
1:15 p.m.: Responded to
Second Street in Prairie City for
a trespassing complaint.
5:14 p.m.: Responded to
West Main Street, John Day, for
a driving complaint.
10:27 p.m.:
Responded
to Riverside Mobile Home
Park, John Day, for an animal
complaint.
Nov. 17
8:45 a.m.: Responded to
Grant County Courthouse, Can-
yon City. Matika Long, 22, of
John Day was arrested on three
Grant County warrants.
9:37 a.m.: Responded to Elk-
horn Motel, John Day, for suspi-
cious circumstances.
5:10 p.m.: Responded to
South Canyon Boulevard, John
Day, for a report of a stolen
chainsaw.
6:27 p.m.: Responded to
Dairy Queen, John Day, for a
report of a dispute.
Nov. 18
10:02 a.m.: Responded to
Riverside Mobile Home Park,
John Day, for a theft of services
report.
5:22 p.m.: Received a report
of a vehicle vs. deer accident.
No injuries were reported.
Nov. 19
10:02 a.m.: Received a
report of sexual abuse from Blue
Mountain Hospital, John Day.
11:30 a.m.: Responded to
Jenkins Road, Mt. Vernon, for a
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a death investigation.
1:26 p.m.: Responded to
East Main Street, John Day, for
a parking complaint.
4:35 p.m.: Responded to
Indian Creek Road, Prairie City,
for an animal complaint.
7:05 p.m.: Responded to
Riverside Mobile Home Park,
John Day, for a report of shots
fired.
Nov. 20
1:30 p.m.: Traffic stop near
Mobil station, Canyon City.
Driver warned for speeding.
8:31 p.m.: Responded to
Triangle Mini-Mart, Mt. Ver-
non, for a report of suspicious
activity.
Nov. 21
12:11 a.m.: Responded to
Little Dog Creek Lane near John
Day for a burglar alarm.
12:38 p.m.: Responded to
storage units near Napa Auto
Parts, John Day, for a theft report.
Nov. 22
9:24 a.m.: Responded to
Russell’s Meats, Canyon City,
for a welfare check.
12:09 p.m.: Responded to
Mt. Vernon for a car prowl.
2:44 p.m.: Responded to
John Day Trailer Park for a civil
standby.
8 p.m.: Responded to High-
way 26 near milepost 144 to
assist a motorist.
Nov. 23
10:55 a.m.: Responded to
Davis Creek Park, John Day, for
a suspicious vehicle.
1:27 p.m.: Responded to
Adam Road, Canyon City, for a
hit and run.
3:29 p.m.: Responded to Val-
ley View Drive, John Day, for a
welfare check.
• Oregon State Police
Nov. 17
12:51 p.m.: Advised of
an injured deer on Southwest
Fourth Avenue, John Day.
1:15 p.m.: Advised of a sus-
picious person on Highway 26
near Luce Creek Road.
2:03 p.m.: Advised of a driv-
ing complaint on Highway 395
South near Gibco, Canyon City.
Nov. 22
7:19 a.m.: Responded to
Highway 26 between Mt. Ver-