The story says the duo was standing by the water for about 15 minutes, only yards from their car. When they returned they found the windows had been broken out and their bags stolen.

Unfortunately, people who steal aren’t always conscious of their victim’s situations. As the article states, had they look at the contents of the car, the recent wedding would have been obvious.

Within 30 minutes of the theft over $1,800 had been charged to the couple’s credit cards at Target and Starbucks. Police have a suspect that was caught on surveillance camera in connection with the crimes, though they have yet to apprehend him.

Becoming a victim of theft or even a more serious crime can happen at any time. Events like this often don’t discriminate.

The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office is handling the case and urges people with information to contact them. The suspect in the case is likely panicking at the thought of being caught. Living in fear, however, is no way to live.

When running from the law, whether you are wanted for questioning or an outstanding warrant, your every action can be a potential misstep into the hands of law enforcement. Most people who are wanted by the police, however, eventually get caught.

Knowing how and when to turn yourself in can be tricky. If you are wanted for charges of theft, assault, or even failure to appear, we can help. Let’s talk about your case and your potential options. As your attorney I will likely suggest you turn yourself in, but together we can talk about how this can benefit you in the long run.

Contact our Oregon defense lawyers for a consultation on your case.

Jared Walter is facing charges of interfering with public transit and robbery after an incident on a TriMet bus on New Year’s Eve. The victim in this case stated that Walter cut her hair as she rode. Walter was taken into custody when the bus arrived at the Milwaukie Transit Center.

Since the time that this case was made public, at least 8 additional victims have come forward to Clackamas County officials. They all claim their hair was cut or glued by a stranger while in public places. Tri-Met officials state they have had three reports of this kind, according to KGW.

Interestingly, cases out of Houston, Texas may involve Walters. In one instance a 12 year old girl had her hair glued while in Walgreens. The suspect was caught on surveillance and officials state they have reason to believe it is Walter.

There are additional reports of hair gluing at the same Walgreens, a grocery store, a Marshall’s retail store, and a movie theater in the Houston area. Odd as these incidences are, Walter will be facing some serious repercussions if the investigations are able to successfully connect him.

Applying charges to such a strange act could be difficult. As stated, he faces robbery charges in one of the cases. He could also face charges of assault. Both of these offenses are considered serious crimes.

Regardless of the charges against him Walker will no doubt be questioned about his motivations with this strange string of crimes.

When you are facing charges like assault you can expect all sorts of questions. You may feel as if you are being judged long before you actually go to trial. Having someone on your side in court can make a big difference in just how frightening the experience is.

Contact our attorneys today for a free consultation on your criminal case.

Like most other states in the country, Oregon has “implied consent” laws. When you are a licensed driver it is “implied” that you “consent” to any blood alcohol tests, whether blood or breath, which may be performed by legal officials. Under this “implied consent”, if you refuse the tests, you can potentially lose your license.

Attorney John Kroger argued the position that no search warrant should be necessary for blood draws and the law should remain as-is. On the other hand, Peter Gartlan, head of the Office of Public Defense Services, defends the position that a search warrant should be required to ensure the rights of the people are protected, as the Constitution states they should be.

Gartlan argues an implied consent blood draw is an unreasonable search. Truthfully, if probable cause exists for the search, why shouldn’t the police be able to obtain a warrant? Kroger pointed out that the time it would take to obtain a warrant could hinder the state’s ability to get positive blood tests, simply due to the fact that blood alcohol content decreases with time.

As Justice Michael Gillete states in this article from The Statesman Journal, “Our Constitution often puts government at a significant disadvantage. That’s what it’s there for.”

His statement couldn’t be more on target. The Constitution is there to protect our rights. This can be inconvenient for people who represent the interests of the government, but necessary to maintain a fair system rather than a police-state.

If you are facing charges of DUI or any other criminal matter, the right defense attorney will be there to ensure your Constitutional rights are protected. Contact me to discuss your case today.

Counterfeit purses and clothing are a huge industry in the U.S.; Oregon is not immune from this either. While we often think of fashion counterfeiting taking place on urban street markets, purse parties and the like are occurring in the suburbs and being hosted and attended by reputable people within the community.

photo credit: SheriW

This article from the Oregonian reveals some of the most recent arrests in a counterfeiting ring in our state. These mostly women are charged with a variety of offenses mostly involving trademark counterfeiting. Most of them got off with probation, though they will be answering to a PO for a few years.

Unfortunately for these women and many people caught in similar circumstances, not knowing the action was a crime simply isn’t a logical defense for most judges.

These cases are a good example of the fact that not all crimes are committed by the down on their luck career criminal. The vast majority of white collar crimes are committed by people just like you and I.

Having defended many fraud and forgery cases in Oregon, I know that many people commit acts like this simply because they don’t think they will get caught. The weigh the risks and believe the potential pay off is worth it.

One positive aspect of these types of offenses is that a lack of criminal history can positively impact your case. If a judge believes the crime was a one time lapse in judgment, he or she may be more lenient.

Whether you committed a fraud to get ahead, not thinking you would get caught or if you are caught up in something bigger than that, you need legal help.

Contact our lawyers today to discuss your case.

Typically, law enforcement agencies are independent, working together on a case by case basis as needed. Each agency applies for grants from the government to create and fund programs. With the South Coast DUI Task Force, agencies in the county united to request the grant together, making an inter-agency organization with a very targeted goal.

According to The World, the money awarded with this grant will go to pay for education, equipment, and overtime. The union of agencies plans on expanding their saturation points as well, cracking down on DUIs over weekends and holidays. They also hope to get cooperation from bars and cab companies.

The Task Force reportedly held 5 saturation points between Memorial Day and Labor Day. A saturation point, also often called a “DUI checkpoint” is where police randomly stop vehicles on a given roadway, checking for signs of intoxication.

If stopped at a DUI checkpoint in Oregon and suspected of drinking and driving you may be given a field sobriety test or a breath test to determine if you are incapable of operating a vehicle or over the legal limit, .08%.

Being arrested for suspicion of DUI can be incredibly nerve wracking. You may have to spend the night in jail and if you’ve never been exposed to the County jail it can be a sobering reality check.

A first time DUII conviction can result in a potential sentence of up to 1 year in jail. However, depending on your situation, you may qualify for a diversion program. Diversion is, in essence, a term of probation served before a conviction.

If successfully completed, a diversion can get the DUII charge dismissed altogether.

Time is of the essence if you are arrested on a DUI charge and interested in serving diversion. You must ask the court for diversion within 30 days of the appearance date on your ticket.

If you are facing DUII charges in Oregon, whether it is your first or second time, I can help. Contact me today to discuss the details of your case.

A former Northwest Airlines employee has pled guilty in Multnomah Court to stealing out of people’s luggage while he was on the job. According to The Oregonian, 46 year old Jose Trejo Romero of Vancouver stole thousands of dollars in property from bags while he worked as a baggage handler.

Apparently, Romero would remove the baggage from the work area and into the break room before removing items from the bags, concealing them in his clothing, and later taking them to his locker. He even shared the wealth, passing the stolen goods to some of his fellow coworkers.

In a plea agreement, Romero pled guilty to aggravated theft and first degree theft. Under the agreement, he could be sentenced to as much as 18 months in prison.

Under Oregon theft laws, the sentence you receive for theft depends on the amount of items, money, or services you stole. First degree theft is considered a Class C felony while aggravated theft is a Class B felony, both carrying several years in prison as a potential sentence.

Romero obviously avoided the multiple years in prison by agreeing to plead guilty to the charges. A plea agreement is just that, one where the defendant agrees to plead guilty to charges in exchange for a reduced sentence or other incentive.

Romero’s sentencing has been delayed to allow his family to find work however. Because he was the only one working in a 8 person household, his immediate sentencing would have put unnecessary hardship on his wife and children.  Although the judge agreed to the delay, he didn’t do so without showing his disdain, complaining that the hardship was Romero’s fault.

If you are facing theft charges or any other serious criminal charges, you have potentially put your family in a difficult situation as well. You aren’t the only one worried about your sentence and we know you want all the help you can get in ensuring a positive outcome in court.

Having handled many theft cases in local courtrooms, I am confident that I can handle yours. Contact me immediately to discuss the details of your case.

Sentenced just last week for his 7^th DUII conviction in our state, Diaz-Quintana also has an ICE hold on him. This means he is in the country illegally and will be deported after his sentence. The fact that he has been convicted so many time leads me to believe he has also been deported more than once.

This latest incident occurred when he was pulled over on the 4^th of July. Diaz-Quintana failed sobriety tests and misidentified himself to the police. He was found to have a blood alcohol content over twice the legal limit.

The maximum sentence is rarely used by Oregon judges, even in very serious case. This lengthy prison term is reserved for those people who the judge does not think can benefit from any rehabilitation programming.

According to the Associated Press, Deschutes County Judge Stephen Tiktin stated about Diaz-Quintana, “He is not amenable to treatment and he is not amenable to following the law, whether it is federal or state law.”

This is an example of an extreme case. There are many programs and alternatives built into Oregon law for DUI offenders, to help them handle their alcohol problems and limit the amount of time they spend in jail.

As a first time DUII offender, you are actually allowed to complete a period known as “diversion”. Diversion refers to a probationary period where you may have to fulfill obligations like counseling, treatment, community service, or license suspension. If successfully completed, the DUII charge will be dismissed.

If you are facing DUII charges in Oregon, contact me to learn about the possibilities you have. Together we can work to ensure you get the best possible results on your day in court.

Forty-six year old Laurie Ann Wilhelm ended up pleading no contest to the charges against her once she saw the 10 witness called by the prosecution. Though she maintained her innocence she stated she would’ve convicted herself had she been in the jurors’ shoes.

photo credit: arvindgrover

Wilhelm was formerly employed by OHSU. While she worked there in the accounting department, 200 gift cards were stolen, cards meant to go to the families of disabled kids who had participated in research surveys. With a total valued at over $3,000 the cards each ranged from $5 to $40.

Store surveillance cameras caught Wilhelm, or someone resembling her, redeeming the Fred Meyer’s gift cards. She used her credit card occasionally to make up any balance and even used her Fred Meyer Rewards Card to “rack up bonus points.”

Wilhelm maintained to the end that the cards she spent were received from former coworkers as housewarming gifts and that she was innocent of the charges against her.

Considering the probable value of these cards, Wilhelm seems to have got off relatively easy, being sentenced to 20 days in jail and 3 years of probation for 15 counts of theft.

More than likely, the judge was somewhat lenient because Wilhelm had no criminal record. As a first time offender, judges are more likely to give you a slightly softer sentence.

How you are charged for a theft offense depends on the value of the item in question. Because Wilhelm faced more than 15 charges of theft we can assume the prosecution didn’t just add up the value of the cards and charge her once.

If they had, that $3,000 value of gift cards would have warranted a single charge of theft in the 1^st degree. This is considered a Class C felony and punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

No matter the charge, if you are facing a theft case it can be quite intimidating, especially if this is your first criminal charge. Call me today to discuss the details and we can formulate a plan for your defense.

Saturday evening around 6:30 pm Mixon was driving his 4Runner when he turned into the path of a motorcycle carrying White Salmon Washington resident Van Kellems III. Thirty-four year old Kellems was taken by LifeFlight to Portland’s Legacy Emanuel where he was pronounced dead.

Mixon is now being held in the Clackamas County jail, according to this report from KATU.

Although incidences of driving while intoxicated rarely end in a fatal accident, they often end in arrest. This tragic accident show how quickly a life can be taken. Now, Mixon faces the possibility that he could lose a good portion of his own life behind bars for his alleged acts.

Accidents like this are the reason that Oregon Courts are so hard on DUI offenders. They treat each DUI case very seriously in the hopes of not only preventing future DUIs but also to serve as an example to the public that the state is concerned about safety on the roadways.

A first time DUII charge is considered a misdemeanor but is the highest level misdemeanor under Oregon law. Although it rarely happens, you can be sentenced to up to a full year in jail for a Class A misdemeanor like this.

With each DUII you have on your record, the penalty is multiplied. When you have multiple DUI’s the court is more likely to impose the maximum sentence as well as a lengthy period of license suspension.

If this is your first DUII you may qualify for a diversion program that seeks to keep the conviction off of your permanent record. Call me today to discuss more about diversion and to see if you might be eligible.

Clackamas County, OR Sherriff’s office states that McDonald is facing at least 5 charges of identity theft in addition to the failure to appear charge. Identity theft involves using someone else’s personal information as your own. This could mean using their social security number to get a credit card or apply for a loan. In McDonald’s case it seems she was using the information of people who trusted her to open credit accounts.

Identity theft and similar fraud crimes are often perpetuated against people close to the accused. With McDonald it appears as though she targeted people who trusted her, using the information of a friend’s sister when the friend allowed McDonald to stay with him last year.

Because McDonald sits in jail and couldn’t make any statements to this report from Fox12, we can only guess as to her motive. Often crimes like this are committed out of convenience and a sense of hopelessness. People in financial trouble are more likely to betray the trust of friends to get ahead if they feel like they won’t get caught.

No matter the reason, white collar crimes like identity theft and credit card fraud carry serious penalties. Using someone else’s information for financial gain is not morally right nor is it legal. Because we are all susceptible to being victims of this kind of crime, these offenses deeply worry the public.

If you are charged with committing a fraud you probably know exactly what I am talking about when I say the short term results of your crime were in no way worth what you are going through right now. We all make mistakes and perhaps you are dealing with the effects of yours right now.

Having an experienced defense attorney to turn to with questions about your case is crucial in maintaining some semblance of sanity when you are up against criminal charges. I can answer your questions and tirelessly defend your interests.

Call me today if you are facing criminal charges like these and together we can figure out the best solution for you.