Portland's lame-duck Democratic district attorney is seeking to commute the sentences of several violent criminals, including a convicted murderer, days before a tough-on-crime replacement takes office.
Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, who was voted out of office on Election Day, petitioned an Oregon judge Monday to reconsider the sentences of eight people. Doing so could result in the charges being reduced and the convicts released. oregon live.
“These seem like last-minute quid pro quos,” Multnomah County District Attorney-elect Nathan Vasquez, who defeated Schmidt and switched from Republican to independent, told the outlet.
“These are very violent individuals who committed horrific crimes, and they are being given some type of leave,” added Vazquez, whose term begins on January 6.
Frank Swopes Jr., a convicted felon who killed 75-year-old Gene Stephenson during a home invasion in December 1993, is among the violent criminals Schmidt is seeking to free.
Swopes Jr., 62, went on to commit other violent crimes just a week after his accomplice killed Stevenson by forcing him to the floor during a robbery.
In the second robbery, Swopes Jr. tied a 76-year-old woman to a bed, “threatened” her and had “sexual contact” with her after breaking into her home, according to court documents reviewed by Oregon Live. .
The elderly victim also said he believed Swopes Jr. “urinated or ejaculated on him” during the home invasion.
Swopes Jr. served 32 years of a 35-year prison sentence for his crimes.
Shane Everts, who has already served a seven-and-a-half year sentence after pleading guilty to first-degree assault and second-degree assault for beating a college student in 1995, is also on Schmidt's list. There is.
Prosecutors are asking that Everts, who was 17 at the time of his conviction, be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea and enter a new guilty plea to a lesser charge of attempted second-degree assault.
If the measure is approved by a judge, Everts will have the crime expunged from his criminal record.
Evan Gardner, one of the victims of Everts' random attacks, strongly opposes the liberal state attorney's petition.
“You tried to (expletive) me!” Gardner told Oregon Live, noting that Schmidt's office notified him of the petition the day before Christmas Eve.
“They collectively caused irreparable damage that will be with us and our families and extended family members forever,” Gardner said. “It shattered my sense of safety.”
During the unprovoked attack, one of Everts' accomplices, Brian Lawler, used a baseball bat to crack the skull of Gardner's friend, David Clark, and Everts used the handle of a mallet to beat Gardner.
In the plea, Clark, who survived the attack after being placed in a medically induced coma, “strongly opposes” reducing Everts' assault conviction and calls the man a “danger to society.” It is pointed out that it is considered as
“He doesn't want updates because the news drives him crazy,” the petition reads, according to Oregon Live.
Schmidt told the outlet that the petition is consistent with a similar petition he supported last year, and that his office is committed to “pursuing justice beyond mere conviction.” Ta.
“We have an established and extensive process that includes input from our community advisory board,” Schmidt said. “Each of these petitions was considered in an exhaustive process that spanned several months.”
“This is the same work we have been doing throughout our term.”
