West Salem Man Sentenced To Over Five Years In Prison On Repeat Assault, Strangulation Charges. (Photo) - 02/20/26

DALLAS (OR) – Zachary James Pumarlo, of West Salem, has been sentenced to serve 70 months (5 years, 10 months) in prison for a 2025 incident in which he assaulted and strangled his domestic partner.

Pumarlo, 32, appeared on February 17 before Polk County Circuit Judge Rafael A. Caso and pled guilty to two counts of felony assault in the fourth degree and felony strangulation. The charges were sentenced as felonies based on the severity of the injuries and the fact that Pumarlo was previously convicted of domestic violence offenses involving the same victim. Judge Caso also ordered Pumarlo to serve a 24-month term of Post-Prison Supervision upon his release.

The case was investigated by the Salem Police Department and prosecuted by Polk County Deputy District Attorney Kaylee Hudson.

Man Receives Over Ten Years In Prison For West Salem Robbery, Assault Case. (Photo) - 02/19/26

DALLAS (OR) – Frank Donovan Eckel, 29, has been sentenced to serve 130 months (10 years, 10 months) in prison for robbing and assaulting a man while armed with a knife as he walked near Wallace Marine Park in August of 2025.

Eckel, of Salem, was sentenced by Polk County Circuit Judge Rafael A. Caso, after a two-day jury trial concluded on February 18. The 12-person jury found Eckel guilty of Robbery in the First Degree and Assault in the Second Degree. Judge Caso sentenced Eckel according to Oregon’s Measure 11 minimum mandatory sentencing law. He will not be eligible for any form of early release or sentence reduction for 90 of the 130 months imposed. He will also be required to serve a three-year term of Post-Prison Supervision upon his release. At the time of the incident, Eckel was on Post-Prison Supervision due to a felony conviction for which he had been released from a correctional facility approximately 60 days earlier.

The case was investigated by the Salem Police Department and prosecuted by Polk County Deputy District Attorney Garrett Lewellen.

Salem Man Sentenced To Prison For Sexually Abusing Dallas Minor. (Photo) - 02/18/26

DALLAS (OR) – Julius Cavada Panimdim, 38, has been sentenced to serve 75 months (6 years, 3 months) in prison for sexually abusing a child under the age of 13 when he resided in Dallas.

Panimdim, formerly of Dallas, was sentenced by Polk County Circuit Judge Monte S. Campbell, after pleading guilty to a single count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. Judge Campbell sentenced Panimdim according to Oregon’s Measure 11 minimum mandatory sentencing law. 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.

The case was investigated by the Dallas and Salem Police Departments. It was prosecuted by Polk County Deputy District Attorney Shannon Clausen.

Salem Man Sent To Prison For Sexual Offense Involving Dallas Area Minor. (Photo) - 02/17/26

DALLAS (OR) – Troy Louis Meza, of Salem, has been sentenced to 75 months (6 years, 3 months) in prison after pleading guilty in Polk County Circuit to one count of attempted sodomy in the first degree and one count of failing to register as a sex offender.

Meza, 48, appeared before Circuit Judge Rafael A. Caso on February 13, 2026 for sentencing on both matters. The attempted sodomy case stemmed from a 2023 incident in which the victim was 13 years old at the time of the offense. The failure to register case stemmed from an incident in which Meza had failed to keep his address current with the state’s sex offender registry. Meza is required to register due to a prior conviction for Sex Abuse in the Second Degree. Judge Caso also required Meza to serve a 24-month term of Post Prison Supervision.

The case was investigated by the Dallas Police Department, Oregon State Police, and prosecuted by Polk County Deputy District Attorney Shannon Clausen.

Jury Convicts Salem Man On Trespassing And Weapons Charges. (Photo) - 02/13/26

DALLAS (OR) – Gabriel Jordan McCrae, of Salem, has been found guilty by a Polk County Jury of Criminal Trespass in the First Degree, Felon in Possession of a Weapon, and Interfering with Making a Report.

McCrae, 40, was arrested in December, 2025, for violating the terms of a restraining order by entering the home of the victim without permission and physically preventing them from calling 911 for help. While being taken into custody, a pair of brass knuckles was found in McCrae’s possession. McCrae has previously been convicted of Felony Assault in the Fourth Degree. The jury deliberated for approximately 10 minutes and found McCrae guilty on all charges.

The case was investigated by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and tried by Polk County Deputy District Attorney Connor Amundson.

Man Receives Four Years In Prison For West Salem Domestic Assault, Strangulation Case. - 02/12/26

DALLAS (OR) – Gregory James Paul Chaplin, 39, has been sentenced to serve 48 months in prison for assault and strangulation arising out of a December, 2025 incident in West Salem.

Chaplin, of northeast Salem, was sentenced by Polk County Circuit Judge Rafael A. Caso, after a jury unanimously found him guilty of Felony Strangulation Constituting Domestic Violence and Felony Assault in the Fourth Degree Constituting Domestic Violence.  Judge Caso ordered Chaplin to serve an enhanced sentence due to him previously being convicted and imprisoned for assaulting the same victim. Chaplin will also be required to serve a two-year term of Post-Prison Supervision when he is released from prison.

The case was investigated by the Salem Police Department and prosecuted by Polk County Deputy District Attorney Connor Amundson.

Man Sentenced To Prison In West Salem Robbery, Shoplifting Case. - 02/04/26

DALLAS (OR) – Christopher Denver Castator, 33, has been sentenced to serve 70 months (5 years, 10 months) in prison for injuring a store employee as he was attempting to elude being apprehended for stealing from the West Salem Roth’s Fresh Market.

Castator, of Redmond, Oregon, was sentenced by Polk County Circuit Judge Rafael A. Caso, after pleading guilty to Robbery in the Second Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The May, 2025 incident arose after the victim attempted to prevent the defendant and an accomplice from stealing merchandise. As the pair were retreating in their vehicle, Castator shot and struck the victim with a seven-inch arrow propelled from a blowgun type device.

 Judge Caso sentenced Castator according to Oregon’s Measure 11 minimum mandatory sentencing law. He will not be eligible for any form of early release or sentence reduction for the entire length of his incarceration. He will also be required to serve a 36-month term of Post-Prison Supervision upon his release.

The case was investigated by the Salem Police Department. It was prosecuted by Polk County Deputy District Attorney Garrett Lewellen.