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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (March 31, 2017)
March 31, 2017 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com • 3A Man linked to gun in Goodding’s killing gets 12 years Jamie Lee Jones apologizes for role State Senate honors Jason Goodding State memorial ceremony to be held in May By Steven Dubois Associated Press PORTLAND — A fel- on whose pistol was used in the February 2016 slaying of Seaside Police Sgt. Jason Goodding was sentenced Monday to 12 years in federal prison. Jamie Lee Jones, 45, apol- ogized at the federal court- house in downtown Portland, saying never in his wildest imagination did he think his actions would play a role in the killing. “It’s a nightmare that haunts me every day,” he said. “My heart goes out to the family, it truly does.” Jones pleaded guilty in December to gun-and-drug charges not tied to Goodding’s death. Other charges were dis- missed in a plea agreement, including allegations that he threatened witnesses to keep them from cooperating with investigators after Goodding was shot underneath his bal- listic vest while trying to make an arrest in downtown Seaside. Goodding’s fellow officer returned fire, killing Phillip Ferry, a 55-year-old transient and drug user. Investigators linked the gun to Jones by happenstance the following morning. Police responded to Jones’ house on a noise disturbance and no- ticed a round of ammunition on the ground. It was the same brand used to kill Goodding. Prosecutors said Ferry stole the gun while Jones was sleeping. When Jones awoke, he became enraged after no- ticing the pistol was gone, as well as some methamphet- amine. He punched a drug customer and fired a gun in the direction of several others. Not an ‘excuse’ In seeking a sentence of less than 12 years, defense at- By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal JOSHUA BESSEX/EO MEDIA GROUP Seaside Police Chief Dave Ham hugs Sgt. Jason Goodding’s wife, Amy, at Goodding’s memorial service last year. Jamie Lee Jones Sgt. Jason Goodding torney Gerald Needham said Jones had a rough childhood that included an emotionally distant father, a mother left disabled by a suicide attempt and the suicides of two grand- parents. “Not to say that this is an excuse,” Needham said. “It’s just information for this court to make a proper judgment about Mr. Jones.” Moreover, Needham ar- gued his client only had 20 grams of methamphetamine, and the case might not have reached federal court except for the death of the police of- ficer. U.S. District Judge Mi- chael Simon reminded Need- ham that drug cases are treated differently when they include violence and felons in possession of a firearm. “I appreciate that you were not the one that caused the death of the heroic law-en- forcement officer — not di- rectly — but your possession of a firearm did lead to the death of Sgt. Goodding,” Si- mon told the defendant. Jones was born in Las Vegas and has an extensive criminal record in Nevada, in- cluding convictions for grand larceny auto, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a firearm by a felon, attempted possession of stolen property and escape. After spending most of his adult life in prison, he moved The state Senate has unanimously approved a resolution recognizing and honoring fallen Seaside Po- lice Sgt. Jason Goodding for his service to the state. The resolution is spon- sored by state Sen. Betsy Johnson. The resolution will go to the state House of Rep- resentatives before signing by the governor, Seaside Police Chief Dave Ham said. A law enforcement me- morial road sign will be placed in Goodding’s hon- or and unveiled in May at the Oregon Fallen Law En- forcement Officer Memori- al ceremony at the Oregon Public Safety Academy. Goodding, who was shot and killed in the line of duty in February 2016 while attempting to make a felony warrant arrest on Broadway in Seaside, was recognized as “a mentor and leader who worked to improve the lives of home- less people in Seaside and to the Oregon Coast to get a fresh start. Jones said he found a job and was turning his life around before relaps- ing into his drug habit. “As soon as I sprinkled meth onto my dream, it be- came a nightmare,” he said. Seaside Police Chief Dave Ham and other local law en- forcement officials went to Portland for the sentencing. “It was a little bit of good news for us in law enforce- SUBMITTED PHOTO State Senator Betsy Johnson with the father and step- mother of fallen Seaside Police Sgt. Jason Goodding, Dean and Patty Goodding, after the Senate passed a resolution honoring Sgt. Goodding and his sacrifice. who was loved and respect- ed by his co-workers and the community he served.” Goodding joined the Seaside Police Department in 2003. He was promoted to sergeant in 2007. After his death in the line of duty, he was awarded the Law Enforcement Medal of Ul- timate Sacrifice, presented to his wife and daughters at the his memorial service in Seaside by Gov. Kate Brown. The Senate resolution re- calls Goodding’s “immense smile and his generous na- ture” and his “passion, ded- ment,” Ham told the Seaside City Council Monday night. U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams thanked the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and local law enforcement for their work on the investiga- tion. “The tragic and senseless death of Sgt. Goodding un- derscores the very real danger law enforcement officers face every day while faithfully ication and diligence” to his role with police. “It was an incredibly moving day,” Johnson said of the Senate’s reading. Johnson, D-Scappoose, said she shared the message she delivered at last year’s memorial for Goodding. “It was a message I wanted the Legislature to hear and wanted the message in the legislative record,” she said. “Jason’s death is like a fresh wound. You could hear a pin drop in the chambers. It was a well-deserved tribute. But God, it must have been difficult for the parents.” serving their communities,” Williams said in a statement. “We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Sgt. Goodding for his service and his loved ones for their incredible sacri- fice. It is maddening to know that criminals involved in drug trafficking and the illegal possession of firearms contin- ue to present a danger to our communities.” R.J. Marx contributed to this report. 26 stores. Top Brands. Factory-Direct Prices. Open MONDAY-SATURDAY 10-8 & SUNDAY 10-6 get Our Free Coupon Book at the Wine & Beer Haus BATH & BODY WORKS • BOOK WAREHOUSE • BRUCE’S CANDY KITCHEN • CARTER’S • CHRISTOPHER & BANKS • CLAIRE’S • DAISY MAY’S SANDWICH SHOP • DRESS BARN & DRESS BARN WOMEN • EDDIE BAUER • FAMOUS FOOTWEAR OUTLET • GNC • HELLY HANSEN • KITCHEN COLLECTION • L’EGGS HANS BALI PLAYTEX EXPRESS • NIKE FACTORY STORE • OSH KOSH B’GOSH • PENDLETON • PERFECT LOOK • RACK ROOM SHOES • RUE 21 • SEASIDE SHIPPING CENTER • SUNSET EMPIRE TRANSIT KIOSK • THE WINE & BEER HAUS • TOKYO TERIYAKI • TOYS “R” US • VAN HEUSEN • ZUMIEZ www.seasideoutlets.com Hwy 101 & 12th Ave., Seaside, Oregon • 503.717.1603
