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News Release

Gervais Man Sentenced For Bias Crimes After Threatening Neighboring Family - 07/10/26

State of Oregon v. Richard M. Pennise

Marion County Circuit Court Case #26CR29450

 

Salem, OR - July 10, 2026 – The Honorable Marion County Circuit Court Judge James Edmonds this week sentenced Richard Pennise (age 52), to two months in the Department of Corrections and 36 months of supervised probation. Pennise pled guilty to three counts of Bias Crime in the First Degree, a Class C felony.

 

The incident occurred in May of this year, when Gervais Police Chief Robert Morris, responded to a complaint at a Gervais home. The victim reported that her neighbor, Pennise, had repeatedly directed racial slurs at her and her family and threatened to kill all of them. The conduct had been occurring on a nearly daily basis, with such severity that the victim kept her younger children from playing outside when Pennise was home.

 

When Chief Morris arrived in the area, he could hear the Pennise shouting racial slurs at the victim, her husband, and their children as they cleaned their car in the driveway. Pennise, whose behavior was increasing in severity, also threatened to assault them.  Specifically, in the weeks prior to the incident to which he pled guilty, Pennise threatened the victim's older daughter and her boyfriend, made racially charged threats about their Hispanic ethnicity, and said words to the effect of "come and get this."

 

“We all deserve to feel safe, but especially at our own homes,” said District Attorney-elect Brendan Murphy. “Hate crimes, stemming from bias and prejudice, will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

 

This state was represented in this case by Deputy District Attorney Michael Kummerman. The Marion County DA’s Office wishes to thank the Gervais Police Department for their work, which contributed to the successful prosecution of this case.

 

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Gervais Man Sentenced For Bias Crimes After Threatening Neighboring Family - 07/10/26

State of Oregon v. Richard M. Pennise

Marion County Circuit Court Case #26CR29450

 

Salem, OR - July 10, 2026 – The Honorable Marion County Circuit Court Judge James Edmonds this week sentenced Richard Pennise (age 52), to two months in the Department of Corrections and 36 months of supervised probation. Pennise pled guilty to three counts of Bias Crime in the First Degree, a Class C felony.

 

The incident occurred in May of this year, when Gervais Police Chief Robert Morris, responded to a complaint at a Gervais home. The victim reported that her neighbor, Pennise, had repeatedly directed racial slurs at her and her family and threatened to kill all of them. The conduct had been occurring on a nearly daily basis, with such severity that the victim kept her younger children from playing outside when Pennise was home.

 

When Chief Morris arrived in the area, he could hear the Pennise shouting racial slurs at the victim, her husband, and their children as they cleaned their car in the driveway. Pennise, whose behavior was increasing in severity, also threatened to assault them.  Specifically, in the weeks prior to the incident to which he pled guilty, Pennise threatened the victim's older daughter and her boyfriend, made racially charged threats about their Hispanic ethnicity, and said words to the effect of "come and get this."

 

“We all deserve to feel safe, but especially at our own homes,” said District Attorney-elect Brendan Murphy. “Hate crimes, stemming from bias and prejudice, will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

 

This state was represented in this case by Deputy District Attorney Michael Kummerman. The Marion County DA’s Office wishes to thank the Gervais Police Department for their work, which contributed to the successful prosecution of this case.

 

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