Category Courts
Mystery surrounds accused drug kingpin’s ties to Salem
A historic multi-state police operation put Salem in the national spotlight after federal authorities said a kingpin with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel had been living in the city. But a Salem Reporter investigation couldn’t establish what brought him to the community three months before his arrest.
Judge pauses UGM stabbing case while Bend man’s mental state is evaluated
A judge ordered on Tuesday that Tony Williams remain in the Marion County Jail while a mental health expert evaluates whether he is able to face criminal charges over the June 1 mass stabbing at the Union Gospel Mission in Salem.
Mental care, crime and knives mark Bend man’s time before Salem
Court records show Oregon dealt with Tony Willams in both its criminal justice and mental health systems for over 20 years before he was kicked off a bus in Salem and subsequently stabbed 12 people at the Union Gospel Mission downtown.
Salem man sentenced to 9 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl
Investigators in 2021 seized 23,00 fake pills containing fentanyl, 28 pounds of methamphetamine, 6 pounds of heroin and 15 guns from Rico Rigutto, according to federal prosecutors.
California woman gets 3 years for stealing Salem payroll taxes, Covid relief funds
Jamie McGowen failed to pay the IRS over $700,000 in payroll taxes collected from Al’s Trailer Sales of Salem and stole nearly $1.3 million of federal pandemic relief money, according to federal prosecutors.
Salem man ensnared in national operation targeting child sex predators
Robert Arias, 54, of Salem, faces three criminal charges related to possessing and distributing child pornography. Federal authorities say he was one of 205 people arrested across the U.S. in a joint operation that rescued 115 children.
Marion County judges will start deciding if public defenders have time to take new cases
Local public defenders say Marion County Judges will soon start appointing them to new cases which they are too overloaded to take on, a move intended to reduce the number of criminal defendants without an attorney.
Marion County’s justice of the peace strives to connect with people through court
Since taking the bench in 2021, Justin Kidd has worked to boost access to the Marion County Justice Court by holding proceedings in Spanish, crafting unique sentences and officiating holiday-themed weddings.
State courts wipe over 8,000 past evictions in Marion, Polk counties
A state law passed in 2023 required courts to seal past evictions annually in some circumstances, removing a key barrier to finding new housing that heightens renters’ risk of homelessness.