Area Transient Sentenced To Over 22 Years In Prison For Violent West Salem Home Invasion Robbery And Rape Case.
- 10/09/25
DALLAS (OR) – James Lawrence Kleinschmit, 55, was sentenced today to serve 275 months (22.9 years) in prison on 12 criminal counts, including rape, sodomy, unlawful sexual penetration, sexual abuse, burglary, and strangulation arising out of a 2024 incident in West Salem.
Kleinschmit, a Salem area transient, was sentenced after a trial last month before Polk County Circuit Judge Monte S. Campbell, in which the Court convicted him of Rape in the First Degree, Sodomy in the First Degree, Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree (2 counts), Sexual Abuse in the first degree (2 counts), Burglary in the First Degree, Robbery in the Third Degree, Theft in the First Degree, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Strangulation, and Assault in the Fourth Degree. Kleinschmit 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.
At trial, the District Attorney’s Office presented evidence that Kleinschmit broke into the victim’s home while she was alone then brutally attacked, raped, and strangled her. He then bound her before stealing her guns, jewelry, and vehicle prior to being located by the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office. During sentencing, Judge Campbell described it as, “the most violent rape he has ever seen in his 33 years as a lawyer and a judge.”
The case was investigated by the Salem Police Department and prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Shannon Clausen of the Polk County District Attorney’s Office.
Area Transient Sentenced To Over 22 Years In Prison For Violent West Salem Home Invasion Robbery And Rape Case.
- 10/09/25
DALLAS (OR) – James Lawrence Kleinschmit, 55, was sentenced today to serve 275 months (22.9 years) in prison on 12 criminal counts, including rape, sodomy, unlawful sexual penetration, sexual abuse, burglary, and strangulation arising out of a 2024 incident in West Salem.
Kleinschmit, a Salem area transient, was sentenced after a trial last month before Polk County Circuit Judge Monte S. Campbell, in which the Court convicted him of Rape in the First Degree, Sodomy in the First Degree, Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree (2 counts), Sexual Abuse in the first degree (2 counts), Burglary in the First Degree, Robbery in the Third Degree, Theft in the First Degree, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Strangulation, and Assault in the Fourth Degree. Kleinschmit 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.
At trial, the District Attorney’s Office presented evidence that Kleinschmit broke into the victim’s home while she was alone then brutally attacked, raped, and strangled her. He then bound her before stealing her guns, jewelry, and vehicle prior to being located by the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office. During sentencing, Judge Campbell described it as, “the most violent rape he has ever seen in his 33 years as a lawyer and a judge.”
The case was investigated by the Salem Police Department and prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Shannon Clausen of the Polk County District Attorney’s Office.