June 13, 2019
Dontae Remarcus Farmer pleads guilty to killing a man in 2001, released from custody pursuant to plea agreement
Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that pursuant to a carefully negotiated settlement, which was approved by the Court, 36-year-old Dontae Remarcus Farmer, who killed Robert Jesus Monterroso almost 19 years ago, was released from custody.
On June 12, 2019, Farmer pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter in the first degree with a firearm, the lesser included offense of murder with a firearm. By pleading guilty, Farmer admits he caused the death of another person in 2001 recklessly and under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life with a firearm.
Farmer received an 18 year prison sentence. Under Oregon law, credit for time served is non-negotiable and is given to all defendants when sentenced. Portland Police arrested Farmer on February 17, 2001 in connection to this case. As a result, Farmer was released from custody on June 12, 2019.
"I want to credit the attorneys for both sides – from the DA's Office and for Mr. Farmer – for reaching what I think is an eminently reasonable resolution to the case,” said Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Eric J. Bergstrom, who presided over the hearing. "This is consistent with how a similarly situated case would be dealt with today. … “[Mr. Farmer] could have become an angry young man railing against the system but he did the opposite. He has given his life over to a future of helping others.”
This investigation started on January 24, 2001 when the Portland Police Bureau responded to the 700 block of Northeast Dekum Street on reports of a man down. Officers arrived and located Mr. Monterroso on the ground with a single gunshot wound to the chest. Mr. Monterroso died on scene.
On February 27, 2001, a grand jury charged Farmer with one count of murder with a firearm.
A jury later found Farmer guilty of murder with a firearm.
After a lengthy appeal process, in 2018, the Oregon Supreme Court granted Farmer’s request for post-conviction relief following a detailed legal analysis of the trial and previous Oregon Court of Appeals rulings. The case was remanded to Multnomah County Circuit Court for a new trial.
"This case has a long history in the criminal justice system,” said Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Jenna Plank, who co-prosecuted this case along with Senior Deputy District Attorney Glen Banfield. "Mr. Farmer has done a lot over the last 18 years. When Senior Deputy District Attorney Banfield contacted the Oregon Department of Corrections, they described Mr. Farmer’s behavior over the past decade as that of the perfect inmate and exemplary conduct."
SDDA Plank told the court that Farmer has spent much of his time in custody preparing his life to do community outreach to those impacted by gang violence.
"I just want [the family of Mr. Monterroso] to know that words can never take away that anger or that hurt that they feel but I acknowledge it, and that my life moving forward is to try and save at least one individual so that another family doesn't have to go through the pain that they went through,” Farmer said during sentencing.
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Contact: Brent Weisberg, Communications Director
Phone: 503.988.6567
Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us