Brendan Murphy Appointed Marion County District Attorney - 10/01/26

SALEM, OR (October 1, 2026) – Governor Tina Kotek has appointed Brendan Murphy as Marion County District Attorney, effective today, following outgoing District Attorney Paige Clarkson's retirement announcement. Murphy, having run unopposed, already secured the position in the May 2026 election and was slated to assume the role January 1, 2027.

Murphy has served as a Deputy District Attorney in the Marion County District Attorney's Office for 20 years, most recently as Chief Deputy District Attorney. In that role, he supervises the office's trial divisions, including domestic violence, child and sexual abuse, complex felony, firearm/violent crime, and juvenile divisions. He also oversees the office's officer-involved use of deadly force protocols, Brady protocols, and public records.

Beyond his prosecutorial work, Murphy co-chaired Marion County's Child Abuse Response Team from 2011 to recently and co-authored the chapter in the Oregon State Bar's 2017 Bar Book on best practices for crossover youth, or foster children who are also involved in the juvenile delinquency system. He currently serves on the Governor's Juvenile Justice Policy Commission. He has served on the Board of Directors for Liberty House, Marion County's child abuse assessment center, for approximately 14 years.

Murphy and his wife of twenty-one years are proud parents of three sons. In his free time, he spends time with his family and likes to fly fish and coach baseball.

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Marion County Grand Jury Issues Findings For Oregon State Hospital Inquiry (Photo) - 09/30/26

Salem, OR – September 30, 2026 – In March of this year, Marion County District Attorney Paige
Clarkson convened a grand jury inquiry into the conditions and management of Oregon State
Hospital located in Salem, Oregon (see below for original release). This inquiry is authorized
pursuant to Oregon Revised Statute 132.440.

At the time, District Attorney Clarkson stated: “I have become increasingly concerned that the
Oregon State Hospital cannot meet the challenges of the moment: appropriately responding to
the growing need for intensive, hospital level of care for individuals whose diagnoses require
civil commitment, restoration services, or secure levels of treatment for the safety of
themselves and the public. We have an obligation to inquire into what is being done with an
eye toward what more is needed.”

Today, the grand jury released its findings, substantiating the need for the inquiry and
highlighting capacity issues and conflicts of purpose within the institution.

During the approximately six-month inquiry, the grand jury: held 13 sessions where they
inquired into the conditions and management of the Oregon State Hospital, Salem campus;
heard over 47 hours of testimony from approximately 40 witnesses, which included
current and former OSH employees, medical providers, OSH management, union
representatives, forensic evaluators, a former patient, a patient’s mother, witnesses
from Marion County Sheriff’s Office, a Circuit Court judge, community partners, and
other witnesses. The grand jury toured the grounds of the OSH Salem campus.

The inquiry revealed several issues highlighting that OSH lacks sufficient bed capacity to
simultaneously meet the needs of Oregonians in need of hospitalization at OSH for aid and
assist restoration, commitment after being adjudicated guilty except for insanity, or in need of
commitment under Oregon's civil commitment laws.

The grand jury made 19 findings many relating to the patient’s path through the system, such
as during admission and their time as a patient, as well as broader concerns at the hospital
including patient experience, safety, staffing and leadership. Additional findings address the
population at OSH, an overall conflict of purpose, the use of seclusion, and the Grand Jury’s
experience during the facility tour.

District Attorney Clarkson stated:
“While this inquiry and the resulting report could never encompass all the multifaceted issues
faced by the Oregon State Hospital, it serves as confirmation that the hospital continues to fall
short in its crucial obligation to our communities and our most vulnerable Oregonians. Our
communities should expect better from the state’s behavioral health system and that must
start with increased capacity at all levels, improved staff safety, an up-stream focus on civil
commitment rather than reliance on the criminal justice system, and—perhaps most important
of all—dependable leadership that creates a culture where this is all possible.”

DA Clarkson continued, “I would like to thank the dedicated Marion County grand jurors, who
were chosen from our community by the court, and who devoted significant time and
thoughtful consideration to these complex issues. This was not an easy task, but I share in the
hope that their effort will be illustrative to our state leaders and lawmakers as they shape
policy to keep all Oregonians safe and healthy.”

The Marion County Grand Jury’s 2026 report regarding the Oregon State Hospital can be
accessed here.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Original News Release:

News Release from Marion Co. Dist. Attorney's Office
Posted on FlashAlert: March 13, 2026 11:55 AM

Today, Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson convened a grand jury to inquire into
the conditions and management of the Oregon State Hospital located in Salem, Marion County,
Oregon. This inquiry is required under Oregon Revised Statute 132.440. The Marion County
District Attorney’s Office conducted a similar inquiry into the MacLaren Youth Correctional
Facility in Woodburn last year (final report can be found here).

“Our state’s most crucial facility serving those with mental illness is housed right here in the
heart of Salem. The Oregon State Hospital is statutorily responsible for the majority of our
state’s criminal justice response to the behavioral health crisis plaguing our communities”
stated District Attorney Clarkson. She continued, “Over the last several years, I have become
increasingly concerned that the Oregon State Hospital cannot meet the challenge of the
moment: appropriately responding to the growing need for intensive, hospital level of care for
individuals whose diagnoses require civil commitment, restoration services, or secure levels of
treatment for the safety of themselves and the public. We have an obligation to inquire into
what is being done with an eye toward what more is needed.”

District Attorney Clarkson is convening this grand jury to inquire into the current operations,
capacity challenges, and public safety implications associated with the Oregon State Hospital.
The work of the grand jury is expected to take several months and will issue a public report
upon completion of their work.

Marion County Senior Deputy District Attorney David Wilson, and Deputy District Attorney
Evelyn Centeno will oversee the proceedings. To support the anticipated volume of work,
Washington County Deputy District Attorney Joel Peterson will also assist as a specially
deputized Marion County DDA. Senior DDA Wilson has significant experience with institutionrelated
cases and oversees Oregon State Hospital prosecutions within the Marion County
District Attorney’s Office. DDA Centeno serves as Marion County’s behavioral health prosecutor
and has extensive experience working with behavioral health facilities statewide. DDA Peterson
oversees a similar caseload in Washington County and is also a subject matter expert on
behavioral health criminal justice matters.

Consistent with all matters that come before a grand jury, these proceedings are confidential.
No further information will be released prior to the grand jury’s final report. The Marion County
District Attorney’s Office anticipates the report will be completed by the end of the year and

will be publicly released at that time.

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District Attorney Paige Clarkson To Conclude Nearly 30 Years Of Service To Marion County - 09/28/26

SALEM, OR (September 28, 2026) – Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson announced earlier this month that she will retire from her nearly thirty-year career at the Marion County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. She explained it was the right time for her to step aside and expressed confidence that DA-elect Brendan Murphy is fully prepared to take on this crucial role.

Clarkson is a 1999 graduate of Willamette University College of Law and a member of the Oregon State Bar since that time. She joined the Marion County District Attorney's Office in 1997 as a law clerk, then became a line attorney, a senior Deputy District Attorney, and was promoted to Trial Team Leader more than a decade before her election as District Attorney. Her entire career has been committed to the Marion County District Attorney's Office, where she has worked tirelessly holding offenders accountable on behalf of the community and victims of crime.

When Clarkson was first elected District Attorney in 2018, she became only the second woman to hold the office in Marion County's history, following Hattie Bratzel Kremen, who served as District Attorney from 1956 to 1964. More than half a century separated the two women's terms in office.

Clarkson served this community during uniquely challenging times, including the implementation of Ballot Measure 110, which decriminalized possession of certain quantities of drugs, as well as the COVID 19 pandemic that shut down court process, the social unrest of 2020, and increased violent crime trends in the community.  She served as President of the Oregon District Attorney's Association for three terms from 2019 to 2022 and has regularly worked to promote responsible public safety policy at the State Legislature and through numerous committees, workgroups, and boards. She and two of her colleagues also joined a federal lawsuit as amici (“friends of the court”), to push for change related to restricted treatment timelines and civil commitment at the Oregon State Hospital.

One of Clarkson's proudest accomplishments is co-founding Marion County's Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, which connects low-level offenders with treatment and support services as an alternative to prosecution. She began this program in 2018, and it is now the foundational program for drug deflection models throughout the state.  She also helped start Marion County's first Mental Health Court and championed HB 4002 (2024), which re-criminalizes certain drug possession offenses. Clarkson is also an enthusiastic supporter of Liberty House, the Center for Hope and Safety, and veterans' causes.

Clarkson looks forward to this next chapter and plans to spend time with her husband who is a police lieutenant in Central Oregon and a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps, and their four adult children.

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Marion County Convicts Father For Abuse Of Infant Children - 09/25/26

State of Oregon v. Reece A. Sorenson

Marion County Circuit Court Case 25CR45343

Salem, OR – September 25, 2026 –  Today, Marion County Circuit Court Judge Courtland Geyer sentenced Reece A. Sorenson (age 29) to 66 months in the Oregon Department of Corrections with 36 months post-prison supervision. Sorenson pled guilty to five counts of Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree from multiple events leading up to August 10, 2025.

 At that time, Salem police detectives were called to Salem Hospital where Sorenson and his wife had brought their six-week-old twin children to the emergency room because one of the infants was unable to suckle properly.

While at the hospital, medical staff observed several concerning factors on both children. Medical staff at Salem Hospital and OHSU ultimately diagnosed, in addition to the mouth injury, that the first infant had four broken ribs. The second infant had bruising around the eyes (highly concerning for child physical abuse, especially in non-mobile children), twelve broken ribs, and broken collarbones. While it was unclear how many times each child had been injured, differences in healing made it clear that the abuse occurred over more than one incident.

Sorenson later admitted to using aggressive force on multiple separate occasions on both babies, causing the infants’ significant injuries. Additionally, the investigation showed that he forcefully inserted a burp rag into one of the infant’s mouths to stifle cries, which caused the initial infant’s injury preventing the child from sucking properly.  

“There are two concerning public safety factors in this case: obviously, the primary concern is the pain and injury Sorenson inflicted on his infant children,” said District Attorney-elect Brendan Murphy. “I am glad that Marion County’s child abuse response team and our office was able to hold Sorenson accountable for this horrendous behavior.”

“The second factor is a gap in Oregon law that restricts our ability to hold offenders appropriately accountable in cases like this.  Oregon criminal law simply isn’t sufficient to adequately protect significantly abused non-verbal children.”  

Specifically, when nonverbal infants are grievously harmed, they are unable to communicate their level of injury. Description of pain is often evidence that prosecutors use to increase the seriousness of physical assault charges to appropriately hold offenders accountable.  Those descriptions also help medical professionals assess risk of injury or death.   Therefore, when non-verbal victims can’t describe their level of pain prosectors often cannot prove more serious theories of physical assault.   Thus, Oregon criminal law has a gap, leaving some of our most vulnerable victims unable to receive appropriate justice. 

Here, Sorenson was charged with multiple counts of Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree for “causing physical injury.”  Criminal Mistreatment is a level C felony, Oregon’s lowest level felony category.   In contrast, had prosecutors been able to prove “serious physical injury” (often done so using a victim’s description of pain) they could have possibly charged Assault in the First Degree (ORS 163.185). That crime is an A felony and carries a significantly more serious sentence under the law.  

“We have tried to change this law for years,” Murphy said.  “Prosecutors are simply unable to get it over the legislative finish line.  Despite numerous examples around the state that some of our most vulnerable populations need more protection, the proposal has consistently failed.  Oregon should do better to protect victims who cannot describe their pain.”

The minimum sentence that Sorenson faced was probation.  The maximum sentence was approximately 148 months in prison.  In this case, the state requested that the court impose 125 months Department of Corrections. Judge Geyer sentenced Sorenson to 66 months, approximately 33 months for each child.  Sorenson is eligible for good time (approximately 6 months).

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Katharine Semple. The Marion County DA’s Office wishes to acknowledge the medical team at the Salem Hospital, the critical and delicate work provided by Liberty House, and the thorough investigation by the Salem Police Department. Specifically, the detectives of Salem’s Special Victims Unit were instrumental in resolving this case.

Oregon’s children deserve to be safe in their own homes. If you or someone you know is unable to cope with the demands of parenting, please call the Oregon Family Support Network (reachoutoregon.org or 833-732-467), or call 211 or text “children” to 898211 to be connected with parenting support, early childhood and family services. Additionally, Family Building Blocks and Liberty House are only two of several local nonprofits that provide parents with resources to help keep children safe. 

Due to the involvement of child victims and the nature of criminal behavior, no additional details will be released.

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Marion County Man Convicted Of Rape - 09/22/26

Salem, OR – September 22, 2026 –  Marion County Circuit Court Judge Sean Armstrong sentenced Daniel A. Long (age 55) to 450 months (approximately 37.5 years) in the Department of Corrections. Long was convicted based on a guilty verdict of three counts of Rape in the First Degree, three counts of Sodomy in the First Degree, one count of Sodomy in the Third Degree, and one count of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree.

The conviction stems from the repeated sexual abuse of a female victim by Long, a family friend. The abuse occurred over four years, beginning when the victim was 14 and continuing until she was 17-years-old. The defendant threatened to harm the victim and her family if she told anyone about the abuse; he leveraged their personal relationship to keep her silent. The victim disclosed the abuse after entering a stable, healthy relationship that gave her confidence to speak out.  

“This case is another example of the extensive manipulation sexual assault victims can be subjected to.  It takes extreme acts of courage for these victims to come forward,” said DA-elect Brendan Murphy. “Despite the horrible abuse she suffered at the hands of the defendant; we wish her healing as she moves forward.”

Deputy District Attorney Matt Estrada represented the state in this case. The Marion County District Attorney’s Office wishes to thank the detectives with the Salem Police Department for their outstanding work.

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Salem Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Violent Sexual Assault - 09/16/26

Salem, OR – September 16, 2026 –  On September 15, 2026, the Honorable Marion County Circuit Court Judge Amy Queen sentenced Jonathan Muhire (age 20) to 25 years in the Department of Corrections and lifetime post prison supervision after he pled guilty to the following charges:

• Kidnapping in the First Degree
• Sexual Abuse in the First Degree
• Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree
• Unlawful Use of a Weapon
• Attempted Assault in the Second Degree

Muhire will also have to register as a sex offender.

In the early morning hours of June 16, 2025, the victim was walking to work on Commercial Street SE.  Muhire, a stranger, approached and asked if she had a boyfriend. She told him no and made it clear she was not interested in interacting. Muhire grabbed her hand and then put his arm around her. When she continued to express her disinterest, Muhire shoved her into the bushes and down a steep embankment. He physically assaulted her and slammed her head into the ground.

Once out of sight, Muhire began to sexually assault the victim. She attempted to defend herself with a knife she had for protection, but Muhire disarmed her and used it against her. Muhire told her he would kill her. Yet despite all of this, the victim did not give up and kept fighting. At some point, while Muhire attempted to move the victim deeper into the brush, she was able to get away and ran until Muhire caught her and tackled her to the ground.

By this time, the victim had run close enough to the road to be visible to a passerby, who yelled and frightened Muhire off. Community members were then able to help the victim and called law enforcement.

Salem Police Department did extensive canvassing in the area and eventually found Muhire.  At the time he was found, Muhire was still possessing a distinct jacket that he was wearing during the assault.

At sentencing, Judge Queen addressed the defendant saying, “You showed zero mercy to [the victim] The violence you perpetrated and the terror you subjected her to as she walked alone to work - leaving her battered, bruised, and sexually violated - this was not an awful mistake, not someone overcome with lust. This is someone who is a danger to any woman who chooses to walk alone or be in your presence, frankly."

This case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Katharine Semple. During the sentencing, Semple said: "The defendant preyed on the victim. He picked someone walking alone, who he thought was weak, and who was little. What he didn't anticipate was that though she was little, she was fierce and she would fight him every step of what he did to her that night.”

“The victim showed tremendous strength and courage,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Brendan Murphy. “Hopefully she will find peace in some measure of justice as she heals from the horrors of this event.”

The Marion County DA’s Office wishes to acknowledge the thorough investigation of the dedicated detectives at the Salem Police Department.

Due to the sensitive nature of the investigation, no additional details will be released.

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Salem Man Sentenced For Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Material - 09/11/26

State of Oregon v. Isaiah Gwin

Marion County Circuit Court Case # 25CR72482

Salem Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

Salem, OR – September 11, 2026 – Earlier this week, Marion County Circuit Court Judge Courtland Geyer sentenced Isaiah Gwin (age 26) to 27 months in the Department of Corrections based on a guilty plea of four counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.

On October 30, 2025 after receiving CyberTips that the defendant had downloaded images and videos consisting of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), detectives from the Salem Police Department served a warrant to the home of the defendant at his NE Salem home. CyberTips revealed that Gwin had multiple downloads of dozens of images and videos containing CSAM.

In December 2025 a second search warrant was issued to secure additional evidence that included several videos, additional CSAM, and messages in which the defendant shared explicit images of himself with others.

“This type of behavior is unconscionable,” said DA-elect Brendan Murphy. “Our office is incredibly grateful for the collaborative work of law enforcement to help ensure a successful conviction.”

Deputy District Attorney Michael Kummerman represented the state in this case. The Marion County District Attorney’s Office wishes to thank the Special Victims Unit of the Salem Police Department, Oregon DOJ, and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for their incredible collaboration and thorough investigation.

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Keizer Man Sentenced For Domestic Violence - 09/04/26

State of Oregon v. Jared Tresham

Marion County Circuit Court Case #25CR26443

Keizer Man Sentenced for Domestic Violence

Salem, OR – September 4, 2026 – A Marion County jury convicted Jared Edward Dean Tresham (age 42) of Keizer, Oregon of one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon Constituting Domestic Violence with a Firearm, one count of Coercion Constituting Domestic Violence, and two counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The Honorable Marion County Circuit Court Judge Natasha Zimmerman sentenced Tresham to 72 months (six years) in the Department of Corrections, followed by two years of supervision after his release.

The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on May 10, 2025, at the Keizer home of the defendant and his wife. In the middle of the night, while their two children slept, the defendant, who was intoxicated from alcohol, entered the couples’ bedroom. He then hit the victim repeatedly with a Bible, striking her in the head, arms, back and neck. The victim attempted to leave the bedroom, but the defendant blocked her path. The defendant went into their bedroom closet and retrieved two firearms: a .45 caliber handgun and an AR 15-style rifle. When the victim heard the slide of the gun “rack” she ran downstairs to call 911.

The defendant followed her down the stairs and pointed the barrel of the handgun at her forehead. Slung over his shoulder was the AR-15 style rifle. She continued to run into the garage which is where she was when officers from Keizer Police Department arrived. Tresham, a convicted felon who was not allowed to be in possession of any firearms, returned into the home with the firearms. Due to concerns about the safety of the children inside, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office crisis negotiator arrived to assist. After approximately three hours, the defendant exited the home and was taken into custody.

"This defendant terrorized his wife with a firearm in their own home while their children slept nearby," said DA-elect Brendan Murphy. "Our Domestic Violence team will continue to prosecute these types of crimes to the fullest extent of the law."

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Braden Wolf. The Marion County DA’s office wishes to thank the Keizer Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for their dedication and thorough investigation.

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