Robert Houchins Sentenced To 36 Months In Prison For Attempted Assault, Bias Crime -11/28/23

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced today that a Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge sentenced Robert Earl Houchins, 40, to 36 months in prison for a June 2023 assault against two cyclists, which was also deemed a bias crime.

Incident

On June 3, 2023, a group of cyclists were riding as part of a naked bike ride in the area of Northwest 19th Avenue and Flanders Street. Robert Houchins, a bystander, picked up a three-foot-long metal pipe, approached the cyclists, and directed a homophobic slur at them. He then struck two of the cyclists across their backs with the metal pipe as they passed. Thankfully, neither cyclist was seriously injured.

The case was presented to a grand jury, which returned a true bill of indictment for charges of assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and bias crime on June 12, 2023. 

Plea and Sentencing

Deputy District Attorney Charlie Weiss represented the state in this case. As part of a plea agreement negotiated with the defendant and his counsel, Houchins pled guilty to one count of Attempted Assault in the Second Degree and one count of Bias Crime in the First Degree. He was sentenced to 36 months in prison by Judge Steffan Alexander on October 24, 2023. 

Houchins is currently serving his sentence in the custody of the Oregon Department of Corrections. 

The DA’s Office thanks the PPB detectives and officers who assisted with this case. 

Reporting Bias

Whether it happened to you or to someone else, we can all help track hate and bias incidents. To report bias incidents to a confidential advocate, contact the Oregon DOJ Bias Response Hotline at StandAgainstHate.Oregon.gov or 1-844-924-BIAS (2427). Community members can report in any language, and the hotline accepts all Relay calls.

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