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News Release

Marion County Public Safety Leaders Warn Of Risks To Public Due To Oregon State Hospital Release (Photo) - 02/12/26

Salem, OR – February 12, 2026 – Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson, Marion County Sheriff Nick Hunter, and Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack are sounding the alarm over the release of a patient from the Oregon State Hospital, citing serious risks to community safety.


Background
Grant Brannaman (age 42) was released from the Oregon State Hospital into a Secure Residential Treatment Facility (SRTF) in Marion County on February 10 after the end of his Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) jurisdiction. He’s been held at the Oregon State Hospital following 2021 Josephine County convictions for the following crimes:

  • Arson in the Second Degree
  • Criminal Mischief in the First Degree
  • Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree (3 counts)
  • Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon


Brannaman pled Guilty Except for Insanity and was placed under PSRB supervision for a maximum of five years by operation of law.


A person is guilty except for insanity1 if, at the time of engaging in criminal conduct, the person lacks substantial capacity either to appreciate the criminality of the conduct or to conform the conduct to the requirements of law. Individuals who plead GEI are under the PSRB supervision, who have the legal authority to either hold the individual in custody at the State Hospital, or if appropriate and safe, release them to the community. The length of the sentence for these individuals is no more than the maximum sentence they could have received if found guilty of the crime. (Sentencing guidelines do not apply to the length of PSRB supervision)


Brannaman spent his entire five years at the Oregon State Hospital (OSH), with his supervision period terminating February 8, 2026. He served his period having never been granted any lower level of supervision nor conditional release. Prior to his Josephine County matter, Brannaman’s previous criminal history includes convictions from several other counties – none of which were Marion County- for Criminal Trespass in the First Degree, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, Unlawful use of a Weapon, Menacing, Rape in the Third Degree, Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, Private Indecency, Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, and Assault in the Fourth Degree.2 Brannaman, a Level 3 Sex Offender, has expressed the desire to reoffend, and the PSRB recently found that it was not in the best interest of justice, or the protection of society for him to be released.3


In anticipation of this expiration, the District Attorney’s office repeatedly requested that the Oregon State Hospital not release Brannaman; and secondarily, that they not release him into Marion County, as he has no local ties and his original crimes occurred in an entirely different part of the state. Specifically, the District Attorney’s Office communicated its significant safety concerns to several state authorities, including OSH Administration, the Federal Court Appointed OSH Monitor, Dr. Deborah Pinals, and the Oregon Department of Justice, urging that Brannaman remain housed at OSH.


Brannaman’s supervision under the PSRB has now expired. Despite expressing those concerns and Brannaman’s lack of local, Marion County ties, Brannaman was released this week from OSH into Jory Behavioral Health (a SRTF) in Salem, Marion County, Oregon.


“The broken nature of Oregon’s mental health system has never been more evident than when an obviously dangerous person is released into a community in which he has no connection, all while public safety professionals agree he needs the security and treatment that only the state hospital can provide,” said District Attorney Paige Clarkson. “Given that our concerns have been unheeded at the state level, we must now warn our community.”

 

Sheriff Hunter stated, “I am gravely concerned about the decision to release this individual into the community. This represents a serious failure within our mental health system and creates an immediate and unacceptable risk to public safety.”


Chief Trevor Womack said, “The release of Brannaman highlights an alarming gap in our state mental health system’s ability to prevent high-risk individuals from returning to our neighborhoods. Our responsibility now is to ensure residents are fully informed. We will be proactive in pushing this information out to community leaders, service partners, and the public to safeguard our city.”

District Attorney Clarkson added, “State statute needs to be revised to align with Department of Corrections requirement to release offenders back to the adjudicating county. And the Oregon State Hospital must responsibly meet its public safety obligations to our communities by securely holding those who need their services.”

 

 

 

1 Source: “Adult GEI,” Oregon.gov, https://www.oregon.gov/prb/pages/adult_gei.aspx (accessed February 11, 2026).

2 Case Nos. Benton County: CM1021375, Lincoln County: 133273, Lane County: 201322257, Lane County: 16CR08753, Lane County: 17CR45991, Benton County: 20CR33475, Josephine County: 20CR65083.
3 See PSRB Order of Discharge attached.
####

Attached Media Files: BrannamanGOrderofDischarge011426.pdf,

Marion County Public Safety Leaders Warn Of Risks To Public Due To Oregon State Hospital Release (Photo) - 02/12/26

Salem, OR – February 12, 2026 – Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson, Marion County Sheriff Nick Hunter, and Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack are sounding the alarm over the release of a patient from the Oregon State Hospital, citing serious risks to community safety.


Background
Grant Brannaman (age 42) was released from the Oregon State Hospital into a Secure Residential Treatment Facility (SRTF) in Marion County on February 10 after the end of his Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) jurisdiction. He’s been held at the Oregon State Hospital following 2021 Josephine County convictions for the following crimes:

  • Arson in the Second Degree
  • Criminal Mischief in the First Degree
  • Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree (3 counts)
  • Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon


Brannaman pled Guilty Except for Insanity and was placed under PSRB supervision for a maximum of five years by operation of law.


A person is guilty except for insanity1 if, at the time of engaging in criminal conduct, the person lacks substantial capacity either to appreciate the criminality of the conduct or to conform the conduct to the requirements of law. Individuals who plead GEI are under the PSRB supervision, who have the legal authority to either hold the individual in custody at the State Hospital, or if appropriate and safe, release them to the community. The length of the sentence for these individuals is no more than the maximum sentence they could have received if found guilty of the crime. (Sentencing guidelines do not apply to the length of PSRB supervision)


Brannaman spent his entire five years at the Oregon State Hospital (OSH), with his supervision period terminating February 8, 2026. He served his period having never been granted any lower level of supervision nor conditional release. Prior to his Josephine County matter, Brannaman’s previous criminal history includes convictions from several other counties – none of which were Marion County- for Criminal Trespass in the First Degree, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, Unlawful use of a Weapon, Menacing, Rape in the Third Degree, Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, Private Indecency, Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, and Assault in the Fourth Degree.2 Brannaman, a Level 3 Sex Offender, has expressed the desire to reoffend, and the PSRB recently found that it was not in the best interest of justice, or the protection of society for him to be released.3


In anticipation of this expiration, the District Attorney’s office repeatedly requested that the Oregon State Hospital not release Brannaman; and secondarily, that they not release him into Marion County, as he has no local ties and his original crimes occurred in an entirely different part of the state. Specifically, the District Attorney’s Office communicated its significant safety concerns to several state authorities, including OSH Administration, the Federal Court Appointed OSH Monitor, Dr. Deborah Pinals, and the Oregon Department of Justice, urging that Brannaman remain housed at OSH.


Brannaman’s supervision under the PSRB has now expired. Despite expressing those concerns and Brannaman’s lack of local, Marion County ties, Brannaman was released this week from OSH into Jory Behavioral Health (a SRTF) in Salem, Marion County, Oregon.


“The broken nature of Oregon’s mental health system has never been more evident than when an obviously dangerous person is released into a community in which he has no connection, all while public safety professionals agree he needs the security and treatment that only the state hospital can provide,” said District Attorney Paige Clarkson. “Given that our concerns have been unheeded at the state level, we must now warn our community.”

 

Sheriff Hunter stated, “I am gravely concerned about the decision to release this individual into the community. This represents a serious failure within our mental health system and creates an immediate and unacceptable risk to public safety.”


Chief Trevor Womack said, “The release of Brannaman highlights an alarming gap in our state mental health system’s ability to prevent high-risk individuals from returning to our neighborhoods. Our responsibility now is to ensure residents are fully informed. We will be proactive in pushing this information out to community leaders, service partners, and the public to safeguard our city.”

District Attorney Clarkson added, “State statute needs to be revised to align with Department of Corrections requirement to release offenders back to the adjudicating county. And the Oregon State Hospital must responsibly meet its public safety obligations to our communities by securely holding those who need their services.”

 

 

 

1 Source: “Adult GEI,” Oregon.gov, https://www.oregon.gov/prb/pages/adult_gei.aspx (accessed February 11, 2026).

2 Case Nos. Benton County: CM1021375, Lincoln County: 133273, Lane County: 201322257, Lane County: 16CR08753, Lane County: 17CR45991, Benton County: 20CR33475, Josephine County: 20CR65083.
3 See PSRB Order of Discharge attached.
####

Attached Media Files: BrannamanGOrderofDischarge011426.pdf,

Man Extradited From Texas And Sentenced In Marion County For Child Sexual Abuse - 01/28/26

State of Oregon v. Kent Hart Marcotte

 

Marion County Circuit Court Case 18CR11602

 

 

Salem, OR – January 28, 2026 –  On January 27, 2026 Marion County Circuit Court Judge Channing Bennett sentenced Kent Hart Marcotte (age 43) to 100 months in the Oregon Department of Corrections based upon a No Contest Plea to Rape in the Second Degree, Sodomy in the Second Degree, Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, and Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.

 

Marcotte is convicted of crimes that occurred in 2017 with a juvenile victim who was under the age of 14 years old at the time. The defendant was known to the victim as a family friend. The victim’s mother became concerned after witnessing several inappropriate interactions. In February 2018 a Grand Jury returned an indictment, and an arrest warrant was subsequently issued; however, the warrant was not initially served because the defendant left the state.

 

In May of 2024, Marcotte was arrested in Texas on a Marion County Oregon warrant for his earlier crimes, and he was transported back to Oregon.

 

The investigation was conducted by the Salem Police Department and the thorough work of Detective John Diaz. This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Kylie Kuhns and Meghan Kamps. Due to the sensitive nature of the conduct, no additional information will be released.

 

####

 

About Marion County District Attorney’s Office

The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for seeking justice through promoting accountability for criminal offenders; interpreting, enforcing, and executing law; responding to the concerns of victims and the public; and working cooperatively with members of the justice system.

###

Man Extradited From Texas And Sentenced In Marion County For Child Sexual Abuse - 01/28/26

State of Oregon v. Kent Hart Marcotte

 

Marion County Circuit Court Case 18CR11602

 

 

Salem, OR – January 28, 2026 –  On January 27, 2026 Marion County Circuit Court Judge Channing Bennett sentenced Kent Hart Marcotte (age 43) to 100 months in the Oregon Department of Corrections based upon a No Contest Plea to Rape in the Second Degree, Sodomy in the Second Degree, Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, and Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.

 

Marcotte is convicted of crimes that occurred in 2017 with a juvenile victim who was under the age of 14 years old at the time. The defendant was known to the victim as a family friend. The victim’s mother became concerned after witnessing several inappropriate interactions. In February 2018 a Grand Jury returned an indictment, and an arrest warrant was subsequently issued; however, the warrant was not initially served because the defendant left the state.

 

In May of 2024, Marcotte was arrested in Texas on a Marion County Oregon warrant for his earlier crimes, and he was transported back to Oregon.

 

The investigation was conducted by the Salem Police Department and the thorough work of Detective John Diaz. This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Kylie Kuhns and Meghan Kamps. Due to the sensitive nature of the conduct, no additional information will be released.

 

####

 

About Marion County District Attorney’s Office

The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for seeking justice through promoting accountability for criminal offenders; interpreting, enforcing, and executing law; responding to the concerns of victims and the public; and working cooperatively with members of the justice system.

###

Marion County Man Sentenced To Over 25 Years For Child Sexual Abuse - 01/23/26

State of Oregon v. Richard Anthony Clinger

Marion County: 25CR00306

 

On January 23, 2026, Marion County Circuit Court Judge James Edmonds sentenced Richard Anthony Clinger (54) for five counts of child sexual abuse that he committed against a family member between 2006 to 2008.   At the time of the abuse, the victim was under 10 years old. 

 

Clinger plead guilty to four counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and one count of Attempted Sodomy in the First Degree, where each count repreented separate incidents and separate criminal episodes. After hearing sentencing arguments by the parties Judge Edmonds sentenced Richard Clinger to a total sentence of 28.75 years in prison.

 

The investigation began in 2024, when the now-adult victim contacted law enforcement.  He was arrested in January 2025, and has been in custody since that time.  The investigation was conducted by the Mount Angel Police Department with Deputy Chief Charlie Hall as the lead investigator.

 

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Kylie Kuhns and Meghan Kamps. Due to the sensitive nature of the conduct, no additional information will be released.  

Marion County Man Sentenced To Over 25 Years For Child Sexual Abuse - 01/23/26

State of Oregon v. Richard Anthony Clinger

Marion County: 25CR00306

 

On January 23, 2026, Marion County Circuit Court Judge James Edmonds sentenced Richard Anthony Clinger (54) for five counts of child sexual abuse that he committed against a family member between 2006 to 2008.   At the time of the abuse, the victim was under 10 years old. 

 

Clinger plead guilty to four counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and one count of Attempted Sodomy in the First Degree, where each count repreented separate incidents and separate criminal episodes. After hearing sentencing arguments by the parties Judge Edmonds sentenced Richard Clinger to a total sentence of 28.75 years in prison.

 

The investigation began in 2024, when the now-adult victim contacted law enforcement.  He was arrested in January 2025, and has been in custody since that time.  The investigation was conducted by the Mount Angel Police Department with Deputy Chief Charlie Hall as the lead investigator.

 

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Kylie Kuhns and Meghan Kamps. Due to the sensitive nature of the conduct, no additional information will be released.