JUDGE SENTENCES PROLIFIC BURGLAR, BIKE THIEF IN PORTLAND TO MORE THAN FOUR YEARS IN PRISON (re-sending To Show Crimes All Happened In 2025) - 02/27/26

JUDGE SENTENCES PROLIFIC BURGLAR, BIKE THIEF IN PORTLAND TO MORE THAN FOUR YEARS IN PRISON

February 27, 2026

Case: 25CR55217

Portland, OR- Christopher McGinnis pled guilty today to six counts of Burglary in the First Degree and two counts of Theft in the First Degree. 

Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Ramras sentenced McGinnis to 50 months prison (four years and two months) along with three years of post prison supervision.

Deputy District Attorney Alexander Garcia - the head of the Multnomah County Burglary Task Force - prosecuted the case for the State. After the sentencing he said: “Portland is a world-class biking city and the Burglary Task Force intends to keep it that way.  People who break into buildings to steal bicycles will be prosecuted and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Burglary Task Force, Portland Police Bureau Officer Elliott Walker, and the Portland Police Bureau for excellent investigative work on this case.

THE FACTS: 

From June 2025 through September 2025, McGinnis used a crow bar to break into 3 separate apartment buildings, a combined total of 11 times. On each occasion, McGinnis broke into the building's bicycle storage room to steal bicycles. The buildings McGinnins broke into include The Frankie Apartments in SE Portland, The Cosmopolitan in NW Portland, and Memoir Buckman in SE Portland. 

The burglaries, thefts, and property damage ended with McGinnis’s arrest on September 19, 2025, following an extensive investigation by the Burglary Task Force.

                                               ###MCDA###

JUDGE SENTENCES PROLIFIC BURGLAR, BIKE THIEF IN PORTLAND TO MORE THAN FOUR YEARS IN PRISON - 02/27/26

February 27, 2026

Case: 25CR55217

Portland, OR- Christopher McGinnis pled guilty today to six counts of Burglary in the First Degree and two counts of Theft in the First Degree. 

Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Ramras sentenced McGinnis to 50 months prison (four years and two months) along with three years of post prison supervision.

Deputy District Attorney Alexander Garcia - the head of the Multnomah County Burglary Task Force - prosecuted the case for the State. After the sentencing he said: “Portland is a world-class biking city and the Burglary Task Force intends to keep it that way.  People who break into buildings to steal bicycles will be prosecuted and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Burglary Task Force, Portland Police Bureau Officer Elliott Walker, and the Portland Police Bureau for excellent investigative work on this case.

THE FACTS: 

From June 2005 through September 2025, McGinnis used a crow bar to break into 3 separate apartment buildings, a combined total of 11 times. On each occasion, McGinnis broke into the building's bicycle storage room to steal bicycles. The buildings McGinnins broke into include The Frankie Apartments in SE Portland, The Cosmopolitan in NW Portland, and Memoir Buckman in SE Portland. 

The burglaries, thefts, and property damage ended with McGinnis’s arrest on September 19, 2025, following an extensive investigation by the Burglary Task Force.

                                               ###MCDA###

PORTLAND AREA MAN SENTENCED TO 23 YEARS PRISON FOR KILLING AT MAX TRAIN STOP - 02/19/26

February 19, 2026

Case: 24CR49227

Portland, OR- Multnomah County District Court Judge Bryan Francesconi sentenced 43-year-old Felix Juarez-Perez to 23 years in prison for the death of Taysean Nash.

Juarez-Perez pled guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree, one count of Assault in the First Degree with a Firearm and one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon.

Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Kristen Kyle-Castelli prosecuted the case for the state. After the sentencing she said:

"Taysean Nash was killed in a senseless act of violence. Mr. Nash’s murder has left a void in the lives of his family and friends. His family has shown incredible resilience and has supported each other as they cope with this tragedy."

The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Portland Police Bureau and Detective Calvin Goldring for their excellent investigation of this case.

We would also like to highlight the work of MCDA Victim Advocate Allison Miller and thank them for the care and compassion they extended to the victims in this case.

THE FACTS:

On September 19, 2024 surveillance video captured the shooting and killing of Taysean Nash on a Tri-Met platform at SE 148th and Burnside. After reviewing video and pictures, police identified Juarez-Perez as the shooter. The defendant told police he had been fronting the victim drugs and went to confront the victim about not paying. Police say he admitted shooting and then pistol whipping the victim.

                                                                              ###MCDA###

Multnomah County District Attorney's Office Finds Portland Police Officers Use Of Deadly Force Justified In February 5, 2026 Incident - 02/19/26

Please find our entire legal memo discussing the facts which led to our decision at our website: www.mcda.us

https://www.mcda.us/index.php/news/multnomah-county-district-attorneys-office-finds-portland-police-officers-use-of-deadly-force-justified-in-february-5-2026-incident

MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR KILLING ANOTHER IN PORTLAND - 02/11/26

February 11, 2026

Case: 24CR12133

Portland, OR- Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Marshall today sentenced 35-year-old Jesse James Herold to life in prison after convicting him of Murder in the Second Degree. The terms of the sentence allow for a review by the parole board after 25-years in prison.

Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Kevin Demer and Deputy District Attorney Sam Wilton prosecuted the case for the state. After the sentencing Demer  said: “Mr. Watts was only 32 years old when he was murdered.  His family worried about him knowing that he was houseless and struggling while living on the streets.  I hope the anguish and heartache that this family went through is softened by knowing that Mr. Herold received the maximum possible sentence.”

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office  thanks the Portland Police Homicide Detail and particularly Det. Sean Macomber and Det. Eric McDaniel  for their excellent work investigating the case.

MCDA recognizes  the critical work of our victim advocates. As a part of the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office they provided tremendous help and support to the victims in this case.

THE FACTS: 

On January 12, 2024, at approximately 7:45 am, Herold stalked the victim Deante Watts   for several blocks as he left the Blanchet House in Old Town.  Herold then stabbed Mr. Watts several times with a knife   on SW Naito Parkway under the Steel Bridge. Herold was arrested in Bellingham, Washington. When a detective from Portland interviewed him six weeks later, Heroldt admitted to the killing and provided collaborating details about the stalking and stabbing.  Herold told police he changed clothes after the attack, getting free clothing from someone who was handing it out from a car and disposing of his bloody jacket in a porta-toilet. 

                                                 ###MCDA###

BURGLARY TASK FORCE SECURES FIRST CONVICTION - 02/06/26

February 6, 2026

Case: 25CR63427

Portland, OR - The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Burglary Task Force secured its first conviction with a guilty plea on February 5, 2026 from 39-year-old Amber Marie Turner. 

Turner pled guilty to one count of Burglary in the First Degree and was sentenced to 2 years of prison. She will be required to pay restitution and will be on post-prison supervision for 3 years following release from prison.

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Alexander Garcia leads the Burglary Task Force and prosecuted the case for the state.

“Criminals who target businesses in our community will be prosecuted and held accountable. The Burglary Task will make sure of it. This conviction is a step in the right direction. For business owners, for victims, for our community.”

The Multnomah County DA’s Office would like to thank Portland Police Detective Cameron Smith and other members of the Burglary Task Force for their excellent investigative work on this case.

THE FACTS:

On November 13, 2025, surveillance video captured one male subject breaking into Mary Jane’s House of Glass around 3:50 a.m. The man pushed through a plexiglass window and began stealing Mary Jane’s merchandise. Turner and others then entered the store to steal additional merchandise. 

Police arrived on scene and located Turner near the business. Turner had a large backpack and a white tote bag filled with Mary Jane’s merchandise. Turner was additionally armed with a large crow bar.

As part of her guilty plea, Turner admitted that she entered the store with others, stole merchandise, and was armed with the crow bar and other tools.

Reaction From Washington County And Multnomah County DA's On Oregon Supreme Court Ruling - 02/06/26

Joint Statement from Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton and Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez

February 6, 2026

The Oregon Supreme Court issued an opinion yesterday in State v. Roberts requiring the dismissal of criminal cases where the state has failed to provide a court appointed attorney within 60 days for misdemeanors and 90 days for felonies. 

The immediate effect of this decision is the dismissal of 1,465 cases statewide, including 915 in Multnomah and 263 in Washington County.  Cases subject to dismissal include crimes such as drug trafficking, aggravated theft, firearms and weapons offenses, felony DUII, and strangulation. This will cause real pain and harm to victims and the public.

We respect the decision and agree that a defendant’s right to an attorney is essential.  However, we also believe a victim’s right to justice, the public’s right to safety, and Oregonians’ right to a functional public defense system are essential as well.  The Court in Roberts honors one right while the State ignores these other rights. 

Oregon has proven incapable of providing this critical service where other states, and Oregon itself until a few years ago, manage to do so.  Oregon’s public defense system is broken and no one appears able to fix it.  Excuses claiming too little money, too few attorneys, or too many criminal cases do not hold up on closer examination.

Oregon spends almost four times the national average per capita on public defense—more than $300 million per year.  Hourly rates for public defenders are among the highest in the nation. Statewide case filings are 15% lower than they were before the crisis.  As spending increases and case filing decreases, the problem persists.

Our offices have taken extraordinary steps to find solutions including establishing special resolution dockets, modifying charging practices, and implementing efficiency improvements.  We have participated in work groups, crisis teams, and legislative hearings.  We testified before the House Judiciary Committee regarding a proposal we believed would help.

After four years of this crisis, we believe a lasting solution does not lie with the courts, prosecutors, or even defense attorneys.  Rather, it lies with the State.  We are encouraged that the Governor appointed OPDC Director Sanchagrin to lead the agency on a permanent basis. But now our house is on fire, and we are again sounding the alarm. We need quick and forceful action from Governor Kotek and Director Sanchagrin to find and implement immediate solutions. And we stand ready to help in any way we can.

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