HATE CRIME EARNS PORTLAND MAN 20-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE - 07/08/26

Case: 25CR38593

Portland, OR- A Portland area man who set his apartment on fire, threatening the lives of many who lived the same complex, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on July 8, 2026 by Multnomah County Judge Christopher Marshall. Two people were seriously injured during the fire.

Shaun Michael Szwarz, 41-years-old pled guilty to the following crimes:

 

Two counts of Assault in the First Degree.

Assault in the Second Degree.

Four counts of Bias Crime in the First Degree.

One count of Arson in the First Degree.

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Elana Langer prosecuted the case for the state.

After the sentencing she said:

“The 20-year sentence in this case is one that brings justice to the victims and makes our community safer. It was my honor to work with individuals impacted by this horrific event including Abraham Olmos. He shared how deeply these crimes, the arson and the bias crimes, affected him and his family. The incredible investigative work of Portland Police Bureau Detective Meredith Hopper and her team allowed me to put together a case that resulted in a plea instead of a trial. This sentence is the culmination of all the experiences of the victims at the Vandalay Arms Apartments and law enforcement’s diligent work on the case. I am proud to be part of delivering this community the justice it deserves.”

Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez also commented on this case.

“When we see a hate crime like this, this is a crime that transcends and goes beyond the victims and harms our entire community. And that's why you are seeing a real sentence of 20 years in prison because this is something that this office takes seriously. We are always going to be standing with the victim when we see such horrible crimes occur and doing everything we can to work with them. Further, when we see a crime that so deeply impacts our community we are going to do everything in our power to make sure that individual is held accountable and responsible. We want to send a clear message to this community. Hate will not be tolerated.”

 

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office would like to recognize Portland Police Bureau Detective Meredith Hooper. We also want to highlight the excellent work of members of Portland Fire and Rescue including Fire Investigator Erin Spens, Senior Investigator Jason Andersen, Lieutenant Craig Gault, Lieutenant Wendy Stanley, Lieutenant Elizabeth Thompson and Fire Investigator Rick Strubelt.

Our office would also like to highlight the excellent work of MCDA Victim Advocate Karla Juarez.

THE FACTS:

 

According to the probable cause affidavit in the case, on July 11, 2025 around 5:52 am, the defendant started a fire in his apartment building which quickly spread to three floors. Two people, living in the apartment above the defendant’s were taken to the hospital with significant burns. One of them also had broken bones after dropping from their balcony to escape the flames. 

Several people who live in the same apartment building identified the defendant as the suspect. They told investigators they saw or heard the defendant running around outside and yelling profanities just before the fire began.

The upstairs neighbor told police that the conduct was typical of the defendant and happened about once a week. The neighbor also told investigators that another neighbor, a black man walked past the defendant’s window and yelled at the defendant after the defendant yelled several profanities including the n-word.

A former girlfriend told investigators the defendant set her room on fire in 2023 after a fight.

                                                         ###MCDA###