Salem Man Receives Two Years In Prison For Stealing Pick-up Truck. (Photo) - 09/04/26

DALLAS (OR) – Mario Mendoza, 56, has been sentenced to serve 24 months in prison after pleading guilty in Polk County Circuit Court to stealing a Ford F-150 pick-up truck in Pasco, Washington approximately two weeks ago.

Mendoza, of Salem, appeared before Circuit Judge pro tem Timothy R. Park and pled guilty to one count of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. He will also be required to serve 12 months of Post Prison Supervision upon his release from custody. Mendoza has an extensive criminal history of fraud and other property crimes dating back over the last 20 years.

According to investigators, when Mendoza was arrested in the parking lot of the West Salem Goodwill, he told police that he had simply been borrowing the truck to pick up a part to fix his bicycle.

The case was investigated by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Polk County Deputy District Attorney Garrett Lewellen.

Joseph Wirkkala Sentenced To Life In Prison For 2025 Wallace Marine Park Murder. (Photo) - 09/01/26

DALLAS (OR) – Today, Polk County Circuit Judge Norman R. Hill sentenced Joseph Andrew Wirkkala, age 38, to life in prison for the 2025 murder in Salem’s Wallace Marine Park of Jacob Collazo, age 62. Under the terms of the sentence, Wirkkala will be required to serve a minimum of 32.5 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.

In addition to the charge of Murder in the Second-Degree, a Polk County jury found Wirkkala, of Salem, guilty of Assault in the First Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing, and Reckless Endangering involving Mr. Collazo.  The jury also found Wirkkala guilty of Attempted Murder in the Second-Degree, Attempted Assault in the First Degree, Menacing, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Attempted Assault in the Fourth Degree, and Reckless Endangering, involving Nichelle Issak, age 36. The jury also found Wirkkala guilty of Recklessly Endangering a third victim, Edward Baker, age 50.

After the sentencing, Polk County Chief Deputy District Attorney Matthew T. Wilson commented, “We extend our deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Collazo on their tragic and senseless loss. It is our hope that the court’s sentence today leaves them feeling that some measure of justice has been served. We also extend our gratitude to the dedicated officers of the Salem Police Department for their investigation and commitment to seeing Mr. Wirkkala brought to justice.”

The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Matthew T. Wilson, and Deputy District Attorney Connor Amundson. The case was investigated by the Salem Police Department and Oregon State Police.

Joseph Wirkkala Guilty Of Murder, Attempted Murder In 2025 Wallace Marine Park Shooting Incident. (Photo) (UPDATED) - 08/27/26

DALLAS (OR) – Joseph Andrew Wirkkala, 37, has been found guilty by a Polk County jury of Murder in the Second Degree and Attempted Murder in the Second Degree for separate shooting incidents in August, 2025 at West Salem’s Wallace Marine Park that left one person dead

In addition to Murder in the Second Degree and Attempted Murder in the Second Degree involving a separate victim, Wirkkala, of Salem, was found guilty of Assault in the First Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon (2 counts), Menacing (2 counts), Reckless Endangering Another Person (2 counts), Attempted Assault in the First Degree, Attempted Assault in the Fourth Degree, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

The jury deliberated for approximately two hours before reaching its verdict after a three-day trial which was overseen by Polk County Circuit Judge Norman R. Hill. Wirkkala is scheduled to be sentenced on September 1 at 8:00.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Matthew T. Wilson, and Deputy District Attorney Connor Amundson. The case was investigated by the Salem Police Department and Oregon State Police.

Sheridan Man Sentenced To 12 ½ Years In Prison For Sexually Abusing Minors. (Photo) - 08/21/26

DALLAS (OR) – Today, Polk County Circuit Judge pro tem Timothy R. Park sentenced Frederick Lee Johnston, age 69, to serve 150 months in prison (12.5 years) for his convictions of sex abuse involving two related minor victims under the age of 14.

Johnston, of Sheridan, plead guilty to two counts of Sex Abuse in the First Degree after participating in a judicial settlement conference conducted by Judge Park. The Court sentenced Johnston to 75   months on each count to be served consecutively, followed by a period of 45 months of Post-Prison Supervision.

Judge Park sentenced Johnston pursuant to Oregon’s Ballot Measure 11 mandatory minimum sentencing requirements, meaning he is not eligible for early release or any other form of sentence reduction program. During the course of the investigation, over 30 weapons were located in Johnston’s possession. All of the weapons were forfeited due to Johnston having a prior felony weapons related conviction.

The case was investigated by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Polk County Deputy District Attorney Shannon Clausen

District Attorney Felton Re-elected To Leadership Role In Statewide Prosecutors’ Association. (Photo) - 08/17/26

DALLAS (OR) – Polk County District Attorney Aaron Felton has been re-elected by his colleagues to serve a fifth term on the Board of Directors of the Oregon District Attorneys Association. Felton won the unanimous support of the other elected district attorneys from Oregon’s 36 counties attending the association’s annual conference in Seaside this past week.

“It is an honor to continue to be chosen by my colleagues for service on the board of the ODAA. I look forward to working on behalf of the organization to further its goals of effective public safety programs for all Oregonians," said Felton.

The Oregon District Attorneys Association (ODAA) is a voluntary association of the 36 elected District Attorneys, their deputy district attorneys, the Oregon Attorney General, Oregon assistant attorneys general, and district attorney office managers. ODAA was founded in 1952.

Aaron Felton has been Polk County’s District Attorney since 2013.

Man Sentenced To Prison In Monmouth Sex Abuse Case. (Photo) - 08/13/26

DALLAS (OR) – Chance William Grooms, 25, has been sentenced to serve 75 months (6 years, 3 months) in prison for Sex Abuse in the First Degree arising out of a 2025 incident involving a special needs adult under his care.

Grooms, of Stayton was sentenced after pleading guilty to the single charge before Polk County Circuit Judge Monte S. Campbell. Grooms was sentenced according to Oregon’s Measure 11 mandatory sentencing laws. Consequently, he will not be eligible for any form of early release or sentence reduction. He will also be required to serve a 45-month term of Post-Prison Supervision upon his release and register as a sex offender. Grooms has no prior criminal history.

The case was investigated by the Monmouth and Stayton Police Departments. It was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Shannon Clausen of the Polk County District Attorney’s Office.

Dallas Man Sentenced To Prison In 2024 Rape Case. (Photo) - 08/11/26

DALLAS (OR) – Jacob Allen Tunget, 28, was sentenced today to serve 100 months (8.3 years) in prison for Rape in the First Degree arising out of a 2024 incident which occurred behind the Safeway supermarket in Dallas.

Tunget, a Dallas area transient, was sentenced today after pleading no contest to the single charge before Polk County Circuit Judge Rafael A. Caso. Tunget was sentenced according to Oregon’s Measure 11 mandatory sentencing laws. Consequently, he will not be eligible for any form of early release or sentence reduction. He will also be required to serve a 140 month term of Post-Prison Supervision upon his release and register as a sex offender.

Tunget’s ultimate apprehension and prosecution was based on evidence developed through DNA samples obtained from the victim during the investigation. That DNA was linked to a positive match with a sample of the defendant’s DNA that was located in the FBI’s nationwide CODIS DNA bank of convicted felons.

The case was investigated by the Dallas Police Department and prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Shannon Clausen of the Polk County District Attorney’s Office.