Category Courts
Salem man gets 2.5 years for defrauding elderly man, mail theft charge dropped
Federal prosecutors say that Ross Sierzega used an 85-year-old man’s debit card to steal $16,000 out of a Salem ATM. As part of a plea deal, charges alleging he stole from a Keizer mailbox three times were dismissed.
Protester wins appeal, regains $1 million payout for Salem officer’s excessive force
A federal judge last year dismissed a lawsuit against the city of Salem despite a jury finding a police officer liable for shooting and injuring a protester with rubber bullets. On Monday, three judges in the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the protestor.
Marion judge embroiled in troubled mental health system struggles to protect public safety
Marion County Circuit Court Judge Audrey Broyles frequently has to decide between releasing mentally ill offenders or violating their rights by leaving them in jail. She says a federal order limiting how long people can stay at the Oregon State Hospital has created a public safety crisis.
UPDATE: State says DEA agent’s immunity defense is unjustified
The Oregon Department of Justice intends to appeal a federal judge’s order granting the request of a DEA agent to move his criminal case to federal court so he can assert immunity from prosecution. The state agency said Tuesday that the case should be tried in Marion County Circuit Court because Samuel T. Landis, 38, has no valid federal defense in for running a stop sign and killing Salem cyclist Marganne Allen while on duty.
Judge says DEA agent’s duties could justify dropping charge in fatal cyclist collision
A federal judge said last week that a DEA agent could be justified in running a stop sign and causing a fatal collision because he was on duty. The judge moved Samuel Landis’ criminal case to federal court so he can assert immunity from prosecution.
Retired Judge Charles Luukinen, ‘gold standard’ in Polk County, dies at 75
Charles Luukinen spent almost his entire 25 years on the bench overseeing the Polk County Circuit Court as the presiding judge. After retiring, he devoted time to settling Oregon’s most complicated and costly criminal cases.
Judge wipes out $1 million city payout to protester injured by officer
The lawsuit’s dismissal comes two weeks after the federal judge ruled that a Salem police officer didn’t violate a clearly established right when he shot a woman with rubber bullets.
Two 19-year-olds sentenced to prison for June 2022 robberies
On Wednesday, one of the teens was also charged and pleaded guilty to shooting at a southeast Salem home a day before the robberies, according to court records.
Judge’s ruling could erase $1 million city payout to protester injured by officer
A federal judge ruled on Friday that a Salem police officer didn’t violate a clearly established right when he shot a woman with rubber bullets.