EDIT: MULTNOMAH COUNTY DA ANNOUNCES ELIJAH THOMAS SENTENCED FOR THE 2019 DEATH OF QUINCY GILL -01/16/25

January 15, 2024

Yesterday, on January 14, 2025, Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Marshall sentenced Elijah Laray Thomas, 41, to 120 months– 10 years– in prison in relation to the December 11, 2019 shooting death of Quincy Gill in North Portland’s King neighborhood. After evading law enforcement for nearly three years, charges were issued against Thomas in November of 2022 when he was apprehended by US Marshals.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Eric Zimmerman and Deputy District Attorney James Kim represented the state in this case. On December 20, 2024, Thomas entered a plea to the lesser included offense of Manslaughter in the Second Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon involving a Firearm. The plea was accepted by Judge Marshall and allowed the case to resolve without going to trial. Thomas has been transferred into the custody of the Oregon Department of Corrections, where he will remain for the duration of his sentence, which will be followed by 3 years of post-prison supervision.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office would like to express its appreciation for all who contributed to the resolution of this case. A special thank you to PPB and DA Investigator Anthony Merrill for their investigative work on this case and to DA Victim Advocate Julie Jacobs for her work to inform and support the family of the victim throughout the process.

MULTNOMAH COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NATHAN VASQUEZ OPPOSES EARLY RELEASE FOR CONVICTED MURDERER FRANK SWOPES, WILL STILL CONSIDER OTHER SB819 PETITIONS -01/15/25

January 15, 2025

Earlier today, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office formally withdrew the previous administration’s consent to proceed with a petition to modify the murder sentence of Frank F. Swopes.

At the last hearing on December 30, 2024, Judge Melvin Oden-Orr ordered the case to be reset to a later date and directed the District Attorney’s Office to comply with the requirements of the law by providing all affected victims with a copy of any petition for resentencing. Under DA Vasquez, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office has complied with the court's order and with Oregon law.

In addition to Mr. Swopes’ case, there were four other cases heard the same day in which the court concluded that the victims had not been properly notified. DA Vasquez’s office has requested more time to review the specifics of each of these cases in order to reach a fully-informed decision regarding the best path forward, a process he intends will fully involve and respect the victims of those crimes.

DA Vasquez said about his decision on the Swopes case: “After reviewing the facts of Mr. Swopes’ crime spree which resulted in the death of one woman, the horrific sexual assault of another, and the permanent scars he left in his wake, his early release back to our streets is not in the best interests of the surviving victims or the community.”

MULTNOMAH COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE ANNOUNCES INTERNAL DIRECTIVE FOR MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY STAFF TO RETURN TO OFFICE FULL TIME -01/15/25

January 15, 2025

In an internal office-wide email sent to staff and prosecutors on Wednesday, DA Nathan Vasquez announced that his administration will now require all managers and supervisors of both staff and attorneys to work on site full time, effective February 3, 2025. On-site locations include the Multnomah County Courthouse and Justice Center downtown, the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center, and the East County Courthouse in Gresham. His full directive to the office states:

Folks-

One of the first decisions I have made in my new administration was to require my management team and the SDDAs at MCDA to report to the office five days a week.  This change will be effective February 3, 2025.

I think an organization like ours works best with human interaction and collaboration. And while that is sometimes possible using a hybrid or ad hoc work-from-home model, it is not ideal. There is so much more energy when we are all together, working together, laughing in the hallways, asking quick questions when we bump into each other than we could ever get over a Zoom call or some other piece of technology. We face big challenges and we have an obligation to the people of Multnomah County to do the very best we can every single day. I believe that can best be accomplished by working together, in person. 

I also want you to know that I have received the message you sent in the 2023 equity survey: MCDA employees want their managers to be present and available in the office. The work of prosecution requires our lawyers to be present, in court, every day.  I want the lawyers and the administrative staff to have access to their managers and feel supported in their work.

Lastly, the work we do here has a direct impact on our community in many ways. That not only includes maintaining public safety and working for crime victims’ rights, but also stimulating the downtown economy by bringing our employees into the city center every day.

For these reasons, I have made the decision to have the managers in the office.

Thank you-

KENNETH WILLIAMS INDICTED ON CHARGES OF KIDNAPPING AND RAPE -01/13/25

January 13, 2025

Today, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office announced that on Thursday, January 9, 2025, a grand jury returned an indictment for Kenneth Gregory Williams on multiple charges in relation to the kidnapping and days-long sexual assault of a 74-year-old woman that occurred in December 2024. 

Mr. Williams has been indicted by a grand jury on the following counts:

• 3 counts of Rape in the First Degree (Class A Felony)
• Kidnapping in the First Degree (Class A Felony)
• Burglary in the First Degree (Class A Felony) 
• Sex Abuse in the First Degree (Class B Felony), and 
• Assault IV (Class B Misdemeanor)

MCDA successfully petitioned the court to preventatively detain Mr. Williams, meaning he will be kept in custody pending trial. Additional information on the indictment can be found here. Please note that an indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and Mr. Williams is innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

#MCDA#

PORTLAND MAN SENTENCED TO 90 MONTHS (7.5 Years) FOR ARMED ROBBERY DURING SHOOTOUT IN DOWNTOWN PORTLAND -01/10/25

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office will be releasing an edited video of the shooting to better inform the public about this case. The video was admitted as evidence during trial. The video has been edited for us by PPB to give you a chronological sequence of events. You will see a timecode in the upper left hand corner to help orient you. News organizations can email us today and we will send you a link. Email is media@mcda.us  

THE FACTS:

On February 6, 2022 at 619 NW 6th in downtown Portland Oregon, 

Terrence Jacob known on the street as “Superman”committed an armed robbery of an unidentified individual. During the robbery another man attempted to murder a separate unidentified individual who came to the aid of the robbery victim. The shooter’s case was previously resolved. 

Today Judge Shelley Russell sentenced Terrence Jacob to 90 months prison for the armed robbery.

Portland Police Detective Brent Christensen was assigned to investigate the shooting.

Eric Palmer prosecuted the case for the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.

THE VIDEO

Trimet video shows at Time code 4:34:54  or :37 on the timeline an unidentified man walking east on the northern side of Hoyt, crosses Hoyt to approach Defendants where they were standing together at the corner. Mr. Jacob is seen wearing a superman t-shirt. Defendants appear to beckon the unidentified man in their direction. 

As soon as he gets near Defendants, around Time code 4:35:00  or :44 on the timeline the other defendant is seen pulling out a handgun with an extended magazine.

At 4:35:05 That man is seen racking the gun as the robbery victim throws his hands in the air and begins to back away. 

Jacob begins to rob the victim by forcefully reaching into the victim’s pockets. 

Time code 4:35:35  or :59 on timeline

At this time a second unidentified man emerges from behind a bus stop with his own gun raised. He  is seen coming to the defense of the robbery victim. The second unidentified man acts as if he is telling Defendants to end the robbery. 

1:21 on timeline robbery victim gets up and runs through frame. 

1:30 notice the puff of smoke on the street. That is believed to be a bullet strike.

1:33 2nd man with gun apparently fires then runs down the street.

Cutting back to the first camera and going back in time. 

TC 4:35:28 Both Defendants begin retreating.  Both Defendants return to their original location at the southwest corner of the intersection. 

TC 4:35:45 or 1:52 on the timeline the defendant with the gun shoots.

TC 4:35:52 or 2:03 on the timeline the defendant with the gun returns and fires again five to eight times.

TC 4:35:54 OR 2:06 on timeline watch the glass window on the right across the street and notice it shatter when a bullet from the second gunman hits.

Incredibly, no one was hit in the exchange of gunfire despite several people on the street and several tents lining the street. Investigators were not able to identify the victim or the second gunman.

##MCDA####

DA Nathan Vasquez, TriMet Announces The Beginning Of Enforcement Of SB 1553 Prohibition Of Drug Use On Public Transit -01/08/25

January 8, 2025

Yesterday, taking a firm stance alongside TriMet and the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney Nathan Vasquez announced that as of January 1, 2025, drug use on public transit is a criminal offense. Senate Bill 1553, which was passed in the 2024 legislative session by Oregon lawmakers, modifies the crime of Interfering with Public Transportation to include the use of illegal drugs on transit vehicles. Now a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail, a $6,250 fine, or both, the offense is just one step below a felony and constitutes a more serious charge than if someone were caught doing drugs in other public spaces. Senate Bill 1553 joins House Bill 4002, which recriminalized the possession of small amounts of hard drugs starting on September 1, 2024 and now provides better direction on the prosecution of drug crimes that occur on public transit vehicles. 

In his statement to the media, DA Vasquez said “If this law is broken, my office will prosecute it. Period. People that are using these controlled substances are releasing really a noxious and dangerous substance into a very oftentimes confined area, endangering people that have no desire to be anywhere near that, including children.” He also emphasized that due to the danger that drug use poses to other passengers, these cases will not be eligible for deflection. The District Attorney’s Office will seek treatment options for people who are convicted under this law and placed on probation.

DA Vasquez affirmed the office’s commitment to work closely with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office to make sure people are held accountable for illegal behavior on TriMet, including drug offenses.The new law supports TriMet’s safe transit zone concept, and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office is proud that the collaboration between has helped develop legal solutions to serious issues affecting the community. Moving forward, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office will work alongside the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the Transit Police Division and our other local law enforcement partners as we prosecute drug offenses and other crimes. Collectively, these agencies will work to make sure our public transit systems can be a safe place for all.

DA Vasquez speaking to the media, backed by Sherriff Nicole Morrisey O'Donnell, Chief District Attorney's Office Investigator Pete Simpson, and TriMet-focused Deputy District Attorney Julian Samuels

#MCDA#

DA Nathan Vasquez Sworn In As Multnomah County District Attorney -01/06/25

This morning, on his first official day at the helm of the office, DA Nathan Vasquez administered the oath of office to the sworn staff of the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. He also attended the swearing in ceremony for newly-elected Multnomah County Commissioners, and said that he looks forward to digging in and getting to work for the community with his other newly elected colleagues. 

Last week, on Thursday, January 2, 2025, DA Vasquez took the oath of office and was sworn in as the District Attorney of Multnomah County. In his remarks, he thanked his family, colleagues, and community for their support and pledged to move forward with the guiding principle lesson learned from former DA Mike Schrunk: to do the right thing for the right reasons. The event was attended by the public, various local law enforcement partners, and many of the prosecutors and staff of the office. In his address to the crowded room at the Multnomah County Courthouse, DA Vasquez recounted his first time walking into the old courthouse building as a young prosecutor nearly 25 years ago and described the work of the office as more than a job: “It is a duty and a responsibility and it is my life’s calling”. After taking his own oath vowing to protect and uphold the laws in Multnomah County, DA Vasquez then administered the same oath to all present deputy district attorneys. If you would like to watch the full ceremony, you can watch it here. 

#MCDA#

DA Mike Schmidt Releases Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office 2020-2024 Term Report -01/03/25

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt today released an end of term report, covering the work of the office during his term. The report includes prosecution data, budget and staffing overviews, as well as modernization efforts and policy initiatives undertaken by the office between 2020 and 2024. 

Multnomah County as a community has navigated unique and unprecedented circumstances in the past four years, and MCDA was not unaffected. The report discusses the wide-reaching impacts of the Covid-19 global heath pandemic on the resolution of criminal cases, while also delving into factors that caused additional strain, including Oregon’s now years-long public defender shortage. The report, dedicated to the office’s staff, discusses major projects taken on by the office during DA Schmidt’s tenure, including the implementation of various specialty court programs, development of a number of public-facing data dashboards, and an officewide transition to a new case management system. 

Per DA Schmidt: “I’m proud of how the office has risen to the occasion of these unprecedented challenges and withstood substantial pressure over the last four years. The greatest resource of our agency is its people, who are mission-driven and who continue to show up every day to serve their community. It has been a privilege to serve Multnomah County as the District Attorney these past four years.”

If you would like to read the full end of term report, it is now available on MCDA’s public website here. 

Eight SB 819 Joint Petitions Presented To The Court -12/30/24

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced today that eight joint petitions were submitted to the court pursuant to SB 819. 

In 2023, the Oregon legislature adopted a new law allowing for reconsideration of previous convictions, referred to as SB 819. SB 819 grants local elected prosecutors across the state the authority to reconsider old convictions that merit reconsideration. Defendants are able to petition MCDA for reconsideration of their cases, and while the majority of cases do not end up being reconsidered, in certain cases– particularly where old convictions are preventing people from getting jobs or housing, involve other collateral consequences, and where the person has demonstrated rehabilitation in the community– we agree to allow a judge to decide if the conviction can be removed or changed in some way. MCDA has policies and procedures in place in how we apply the law, the office reaches out to and speaks with all victims at least 30 days in advance of any hearings, and MCDA additionally has a community advisory board (CAB) that hears all applications and weighs in before the DA considers the cases. In some more rare cases, the office will also consider sentences that appear excessive. These may involve individuals currently serving time in DOC. 

The hearings for these cases took place this afternoon in front of the honorable Judge Melvin Oden-Orr and was attended by the victims of these crimes, families of defendants who currently remain in the custody of the Oregon DOC, as well as defendants who themselves are seeking a reconsideration of their sentence. The cases presented today were:

• State v. Shane Ebberts
• State v. Frank F. Swopes Jr.
• State v. Allen Wayne Howard
• State v. Tanya Stoudamire
• State v. Aaron D. Kent
• State v. Dashia Fontleroy
• State v. Jonathan Alexander Craig
• State v. Nicholas Thornton

In light of today’s hearings, DA Schmidt stated: “Today the court held hearings in several SB 819 cases and agreed that charges could be changed or dismissed to allow people to move on with their lives with clean records in recognition that they had turned their lives around. I’m grateful that Judge Oden-Orr acknowledged the work of the justice integrity unit and our victim’s advocates in communicating with victims in the remaining SB 819 cases and that those cases will be set over for 30 days to give the victims additional time with the joint petition filed with the court. I hope that at that time the court will thoughtfully consider and grant the petitions.”