January 16, 2015 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 5A
Hearing scheduled to discuss trial date for Smith
DA argues surviving daughter
should be able to put this behind her
By Kyle Spurr
EO Media Group
Clatsop County Circuit
Judge Cindee Matyas has
set another status hearing
for 2 p.m. Jan. 22 to further
discuss the trial date for
Jessica Smith, the mother
accused of drugging and
murdering her 2-year-old
daughter and attempting to
kill her 13-year-old daugh-
ter in a Cannon Beach ho-
tel last July 31.
The discovery, or ev-
idence, deadline is eight
days later on Jan. 30.
The dispute continues
over the July 7, 2015, trial
date for Smith,
Smith’s defense attor-
neys have made it clear
they will need more time
to prepare for trial, while
District Attorney Josh
Marquis is requesting the
trial date remain set, es-
pecially since the case in-
volves a surviving child,
Alana Smith.
Such disagreement was
the focus of a status hear-
ing Dec. 30 in Clatsop
County Circuit Court. Pri-
or to the hearing, Marquis
¿OHG D ³GDWH FHUWDLQ´ PR-
tion for the trial.
³7KHVWDWHKDVFRQVXOWHG
with the victim and her fa-
ther, and it is their wish for
a trial as soon as possible
and to minimize the dis-
ruption to Alana Smith’s
life that the trial be held, as
scheduled, during the sum-
PHU VFKRRO EUHDN´ 0DU-
quis wrote in the motion.
Smith’s defense attor-
neys asked to responded
WR WKH ³GDWH FHUWDLQ´ PR-
tion in writing within 14
days, which was granted
by Matyas.
³$V ZH LQIRUPHG WKH
court, that is not a realis-
WLF GDWH IRU XV´ GHIHQVH
co-counsel Lynne Morgan
said.
Marquis said the pros-
ecution, which has the
burden of proof, has pro-
ABOVE: Jessica Smith, along-
side her defense attorney Wil-
liams Falls, surveys the scene
inside Courtroom 100 on the
ground floor of the Clatsop
County Courthouse Nov. 6.
RIGHT: Jessica Smith, 40, is
ushered toward Courtroom
100 of the Clatsop Coun-
ty Courthouse by deputies
from the Clatsop County
Sheriff ’s Office Oct. 7.
ALEX PAJUNAS PHOTOS
vided almost 3,500 pag-
es of police reports, 34
separate CDs and DVDs
and detailed copies of the
defendant’s statements to
investigators. So far, the
defense has not submitted
any evidence.
At the hearing, defense
attorney William Falls
handed the court a 429-
page law journal from
Hofstra Law School. The
journal argues that defense
attorneys are allowed more
time in cases involving the
death penalty.
Smith, 40, of Golden-
dale, Wash., pleaded not
guilty Aug. 12 to aggravat-
ed murder and attempted
aggravated murder. Smith
is accused of drowning
her 2-year-old daughter,
Isabella Smith, and cutting
the throat of Alana Smith
in a room at the Surfsand
Resort.
Isabella Smith died of
asphyxiation by drowning,
according to the state med-
ical examiner. High level
over-the-counter antihista-
mine sedatives were found
in the toddler’s system.
Due to the aggravat-
ed factor in the charges,
Smith faces the possibility
of the death penalty.
Smith appeared in court
via video link from Tilla-
mook County Jail, which
has an agreement with
Clatsop County to offer
rented space. She recently
transferred to Tillamook at
the Clatsop County Jail’s
discretion.
She signed a waiver of
personal appearance prior
to the hearing. She remains
in jail without the possibil-
ity of posting bail.
At a previous hearing,
Smith’s defense attorneys
said they would both be
busy in another aggravated
murder case in Multnomah
County and will not have
time for the Smith trial un-
til 2016.
In his motion, Marquis
said, the convenience of
the lawyers should not be
the focus of setting a trial
date. All attorneys have
other cases, Marquis said,
and the focus should be on
the defendant and the vic-
tims.
³)RUD\HDUROGFKLOG
in which her natural moth-
er is accused of killing her
sister and then attempting
to cut her throat, delays are
QRWKLQJ VKRUW RI WRUWXUH´
0DUTXLVVDLG³$\HDU¶VGH-
lay for a 13-year-old child
means much more than a
similar delay to someone
ZKRLV\HDUVRIDJH´
Cannon Beach Police Department unveils strategic plan
Foot patrols will become a priority
RQ WUDLQLQJ ÀH[LELOLW\ DQG
maintaining a low crime
By Nancy McCarthy
rate. However, the plan
Cannon Beach Gazette
tions the community has for
notes that the department’s
us as well as expectations
weaknesses include a lack
Longtime resident and IURPWKHSROLFHGHSDUWPHQW´
of experience, too many
former Cannon Beach City
The department’s three
calls, a lack of opportunity
Councilor Sam Steidel is the strategic goals are:
to move up in the depart-
city’s new mayor.
• Increase community
ment and complacency.
Steidel, who ran unop- contact through foot patrols
Opportunities to over-
posed in the November gen- and participation in commu-
come those weaknesses,
eral election, replaces Mike nity events;
however, include partner-
Morgan, who served as may-
,PSURYH WKH HI¿FLHQF\
VKLSVZLWKWKH¿UHGLVWULFWDQG
or for six years. Steidel was and effectiveness of depart-
local businesses, exploring
VZRUQLQWRRI¿FHE\0XQLFL- ment operations;
³ODWHUDOPRELOLW\´WKDWZRXOG
pal Judge Ronald Woltjer.
NANCY MCCARTHY PHOTO
• Establish a working en-
LQYROYH RI¿FHUV EHFRPLQJ
The new mayor thanked vironment that encourages Municipal Judge Ronald Woltjer (back to the camera) detectives and dealing with
KLV VXSSRUWHUV EULHÀ\ EHIRUH teamwork, empowerment, shakes hands with Sam Steidel, following Steidel’s swearing the increasing volume of
beginning the City Council communication and profes- in as Cannon Beach’s new mayor.
tourists in town.
meeting.
sional development.
7KHSODQQRWHVWKDW³LQWHU-
During the meeting, Po-
Among the core values bars more often. The citizens been supervising.
QDODQGH[WHUQDO´WKUHDWVDOVR
lice Chief Jason Schermer- contained in the plan is a police academy, which he di-
The
department’s exist that aren’t under the de-
horn presented a master plan statement that the department rected while working for the strengths, according to the partment’s control. By being
for the police department that ³HPEUDFHV GLYHUVLW\ LQ DOO Seaside Police Department, plan, include an attitude that aware of them and devel-
includes a new mission state- its forms, and vows to treat will be expanded to include WKHRI¿FHUVFDQPHQWRUHDFK oping programs to respond,
ment and several goals.
all individuals equally, with all law enforcement agen- other, a positive communi- however, the department can
³:H VWDUWHG GHYHORSLQJ empathy, compassion and cies in Clatsop County. The ty perception, an emphasis ³JUHDWO\ UHGXFH WKH SRWHQWLDO
this three years ago with a UHVSHFW´
department also will assume
community forum and some
Schermerhorn said the de- responsibility for the Com-
µFRIIHH ZLWK D FRS¶ HYHQWV´ partment will, among other munity Emergency Response
Schermerhorn told the coun- projects, increase downtown Team, which the Cannon
FLO ³,W FRQWDLQV WKH H[SHFWD- foot patrols and check local Beach Fire & Rescue had
R AR E LY AV AILABLE O CE AN
FR O N T LO CATIO N
1 540 For est La w n R d
Join the PARTY! January 24th, 2015
C a n n on Be a ch In fron t of H a ysta ck R ock,
situ a te d hig h on the b lu ff, you w ill e n joy a
m a g n ifice n t pa n ora m a of oce a n a n d b e a ch
w ith you r ow n priva te sta irw a y to the sa n d .
CM L S#1 4-431
$2,950,000
Cra ig W eston 503-738-2838
D a n a W eston 503-738-2839
S TU N N IN G O CE AN V IE W S
71 5 O a k S t
IRUORVV´WKHSODQVD\V
Those threats include
employee retention, a tsuna-
PL ODFN RI D GHWR[L¿FDWLRQ
center, mental health issues,
change and community per-
ception.
During the community fo-
rum held in November 2013,
those attending said the de-
partment’s highest priority
should be patrols, including
foot and bicycle patrols and
building and business checks.
That priority was closely fol-
lowed by public assistance,
including home security
checks, motorist assists, ani-
mal control and enforcing the
city’s nuisance ordinance.
Emergency
response
ranked third on the list of
community priorities, and
that was followed by com-
PXQLW\ UHODWLRQV WUDI¿F HQ-
forcement and criminal in-
vestigations.
H IG H ABO V E
CAN N O N BE ACH
82624 E lkw ood M tn R d
C a n n on Be a ch Across from the b e a ch in
the C ha pm a n P oin t a re a , this cu stom
cra ftsm a n show s Asia n & n a u tica l
in flu e n ce s, m u ltiple le ve ls cre a te priva te
su ite s, rive r rock fire pla ce . 4 b d , 3.5 b a th,
office , d e n .
C a n n on Be a ch W ith w hite w a te r oce a n &
lig hthou se vie w s, this e xqu isite hom e w a s
re b u ilt in 201 3. P riva te , w ood e d 2.6 4 a cre
e sta te w ith cha rm in g g u e st hou se .
W ALK TO BE ACH
AN D TO W N !
1 40 E lliott W a y
A CO TTAG E BY TH E S E A
4 O F TH E M !
1 80 W Coos
CM L S#1 4-1 034
$1 ,995,000
K a ren M eili 503-440-5806
CM L S#1 4-1 1 92
$995,000
K a ren M eili 503-440-5806
Open House 1:00-3:00 pm - FREE
Meet & Greet Dinner 5:15 – $90 (includes concert, tables available)
Concert “Road to Carnegie Hall” 7:00 pm – $25 (concert only)
Call today, Liberty Box Office 503.325.5922 Ext. 55
For information & events for our year long celebration check our web site at...
www.liberty-theater.org
LOTS G
of places you can pick up a
COMPLIMENTARY copy of the
CE N TR AL LO CATIO N
O CE AN V IE W
1 657 S H em lock
C a n n on Be a ch O rig in a lly d e sig n e d a s a
d u ple x, n e a r b e a ch, H a ysta ck R ock, m id -
tow n shops & re sta u ra n ts. The re is room
for a ll w ith 5 b d , 5.5 b a ths.
CM L S1 4-1 043
$679,000
K a ren M eili 503-440-5806
C a n n on Be a ch Un iqu e cra ftsm a n style
w ith va u lte d b e a m e d ce ilin g s. F O R
D E TAIL S C AL L R E C O R D IN G 1 -800-784-
9 541 E X T 234
CM L S#1 4-564
$474,000
Ja ckie W eb er 503-440-2331
C a n n on Be a ch Un iqu e opportu n ity to
ow n a lot w ith in com e ! F O R M O R E
IN F O R M ATIO N C AL L R E C O R D IN G 1 -800-
784-9 541 E X T 789
CM L S#1 4-31 4
$465,000
Ja ckie W eb er 503-440-2331
CANNON BEACH
AZETTE
CANNON BEACH
Cannon Beach Bakery
Cannon Beach Book Company
Cannon Beach Beach Store
Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce
Cannon Beach City Hall
Cannon Beach Conference Center
Cannon Beach Family Market
Cannon Beach Historical Center
Cannon Beach Hotel
Cannon Beach Liquor Store
Cannon Beach Property Management
Cannon Beach RV Resort
Cannon Beach Vacation Rentals
Duane Johnson Real Estate
Ecola Creek Lodge
EVOO
George Vetter FotoArt
Hallmark Inns & Resorts
Inn at Cannon Beach
Inn at Haystack Rock
Kamali Sotheby’s Realty
Lumberyard Rotisserie & Grill
Mariner Market
Martin Hospitality
Mo’s Restaurant
Picnic Basket
Pig ‘N Pancake
Purple Moon/Morris’ Fireside Restaurant
RE/MAX Coastal Advantage
Sea Ranch RV Park
Sea Sprite at Haystack Rock
Sea Sprite on the Estuary
Surfcrest Market
Sweet Basil’s Cafe & The Wine Bar
The Land’s End Motel
The Ocean Lodge
The Stephanie Inn
The Waves Motel
Tolovana Inn
US Bank/La Luna Loca
Windermere Stellar Real Estate
SEASIDE
Rite Aid
Safeway
Seaside Factory Outlet Center
Seaside Signal/Cannon Beach Gazette Office
GEARHART
Windermere Stellar Real Estate
4,000 COPIES DISTRIBUTED EACH MONTH
W H AT A V IE W
W H AT A LO CATIO N !
V L Coos & P a cif ic
C a n n on Be a ch Ju st 200 ft to the b e a ch,
le ve l b u ild in g lot in qu ie t Tolova n a P a rk
a re a w ith oce a n vie w s possib le from b oth
m a in & u ppe r le ve l.
CM L S#1 3-1 034
$449,000
K a ren M eili 503-440-5806
P R IV ATE V IE W LO T
V L 4663 Log a n La n e
C a n n on Be a ch Am a zin g oce a n vie w lot
rig ht a cross from the oce a n , u tilitie s a t the
stre e t, b u ild you r d re a m hom e on .1 5
a cre .
C a n n on Be a ch W e ll-a ppoin te d u n its w ith
a m a zin g vie w s. O n e or b oth ca n b e
re n te d . G ood in com e . O n e b e d , on e b a th
plu s stu d io w ith b a th.
CM L S#1 3-1 629
$369,000
Tin a Cha pm a n 503-440-9957
CM L S#1 4-1 1 5
$359,000
Tin a Cha pm a n 503-440-9957
N E W
1 BLO CK TO TH E BE ACH
3745 S H em lock S t
C a n n on Be a ch C om forta b le Se a C olon y
3 b d rm / 2 b a th con d o w ith va u lte d ce ilin g ,
pe lle t stove , a ll a pplia n ce s a n d priva te
d e ck.
CM L S#1 4-327
$295,000
D a n a W eston 503-738-2839
Cra ig W eston 503-738-2838
TO P FLO O R O CE AN FR O N T
3400 S H em lock #382/332
P R IC E
N E W
O N E S TO R Y
P R IS TIN E D E S IG N
1 0680 N eptu n e W a y
M a n za n ita
L oca te d a cross from n a tu re
pre se rve , this 3 b d , 2 b a th hom e is in
pristin e con d ition . F O R D E TAIL S C AL L 1 -
800-784-9 541 E X T400
CM L S#1 4-1 338
$249,900
Ja ckie W eb er 503-440-2331
C AN N ON BEAC H OFFIC E
255 N . Hem lock, S te. B1 • C a n n on Bea ch, OR 97110
800/676-1176 • 503/436-1027
LIS T IN G
LO D G E S AT CAN N O N BE ACH
1 32 E S u r f cr est
C a n n on Be a ch R e la x in a fu lly fu rn ishe d 3
b d , 2 b a tow n hou se , g ou rm e t kitche n ,
fire pla ce . D iscove r a n e w w a y to va ca tion
a n d b e g in a life tim e of pre ciou s m e m orie s
w ith ow n e rship sta rtin g a 1 / 1 2 sha re !
CM L S#1 5-7
$89,000-$1 09,000
Steve Cra n e 503-440-631 0
G EARHART OFFIC E
588 Pa cific W a y • G ea rha rt, OR 97138
800/275-7773 • 503/738-8522
S ervin g the En tire N orth O reg on C oa st