January 16, 2020

Jordan Douglas Powell-Mathewson receives a 60 month prison sentence for committing a random, unprovoked assault

Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that 29-year-old Jordan Douglas Powell-Mathewson changed his plea and received a 60 month prison sentence for a random and unprovoked assault on a person working in the Lloyd District.

“This was an exceptionally violent and senseless attack on a person who was simply standing outside on his work break,” said Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Nicole Hermann, who prosecuted this case. “It was only by sheer luck that the victim’s shirt and uniform prevented him from suffering more serious and life-threatening stab wounds.”

After changing his plea, the court convicted Powell-Mathewson of one count of assault in the second degree for causing physical injuries using a deadly or dangerous weapon.

At the hospital, doctors treated the victim for multiple injuries, but he did not require surgery. 

This investigation started on August 30, 2019 when police responded to a fast food restaurant in the 700 block of Northeast Weidler Street in Portland, Oregon after receiving information about an assault. When police arrived, they contacted the victim and learned he was outside on his scheduled work break smoking a cigarette. During his break, a person, later identified as Powell-Mathewson, approached and started stabbing the victim in the stomach, chest and arm using a knife.

“Mr. Powell-Mathewson positioned himself in a manner that essentially left the victim with no immediate way to escape,” DDA Hermann said.

When police arrived at the crime scene, they found Powell-Mathewson inside a vehicle and immediately saw that he had blood on his clothing. Officers also observed a knife in the vehicle, which was determined to be the weapon used in this assault.

The victim provided the District Attorney’s Office with an impact statement, which DDA Hermann read at the time of sentencing.

The impact statement said, in part, “At that moment, my life changed forever. Prior to this event, I was getting my life back on track from previous traumatic events. … This stabbing event that Mr. Powell-Mathewson initiated upended my entire life. … This has been one of the worst things to ever happen to me.”

Upon his release, Powell-Mathewson will be on 36 months of post-prison supervision. The restitution amount owed to the victim will be determined and finalized within 90 days.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office recognizes Portland Police Officer Lucas Brostean, Officer Daniel DiMatteo, Officer Christopher McDonald, Officer Wayne Alderman, Officer Daniel Trummer, and Detective Jeff Sharp for their dedicated efforts responding to this incident and investigating this case.

The District Attorney’s Office also recognizes the members of its Victim Assistance Program who provided the victim advocacy and support through this case.

#MCDA#

Contact: Brent Weisberg, Communications Director 
Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office
Phone: 503.988.6567 | Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us