As reported in The Columbian citing an article published in The Spokesman-Review several pets are up for adoption following the convictions of 4 people for animal cruelty. The animals included guinea pigs, horses and goats. According to the article, “[m]ost of the animals were in cages with no water and large amounts of feces. The home had no running water or electricity and was filled with animal feces, rotting food and garbage.” The terms of the convictions include limitations on number of pets that can be owned in the future by the defendants. [Read more…]
“Rural Areas Ripe for Crime” is the Headline in a 3-part series starting today in The Oregonian
May 30, 2014 By
For those like me (criminal defense attorneys) who’s careers are intertwined with the criminal justice system — there is a fascinating series of articles starting today in The Oregonian regarding rural crime. Friday’s article will focus on “crime rising as county sheriff patrols decline across rural Oregon”. [Read more…]
Mazel Tov, Clark County Courthouse!
May 9, 2014 By
I have been practicing law in Clark County Since 2002. For over 10+ years this has been my home in the legal community. It goes without saying but certainly worth mentioning, I have spent a significant chunk of that time at the Clark County Courthouse. [Read more…]
SCOTUS Mulls Cellphone Searches by Law Enforcement
April 30, 2014 By
Ostensibly, cellphones have morphed into extensions of our body. Dining out. Relaxing at a park. Hanging out with friends. Watching television. Or just plain being on a phone for the sake of being on a phone. A growing percentage of the population can not seem to disconnect themselves from their cell phones. We take our cellphones with us wherever we go. There it is. Resting in our pockets. Or attached to our hands. [Read more…]
Eyewitness Testimony Examined Under New Light
April 18, 2014 By
According to an article in today’s The Columbian citing an Associated Press article by Nigel Duara, “studies show eyewitness testimony is only right about half the time — a reality that has prompted a small vanguard of police chiefs, courts and lawmakers to toughen laws governing the handling of eyewitnesses and their accounts of crimes”. [Read more…]
Washington Governor Jay Inslee Signs New Domestic Violence Gun Law
April 3, 2014 By
Persons subject to no-contact orders, protection orders, and restraining orders face significant legal challenges to gun ownership.
As reported in The Spokesman-Review, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed a new Domestic Violence Gun Law Bill on March 28, 2014 with an effective date of June 12, 2014. [Read more…]
Doors Open for Man to Sue State for Wrongful Conviction
March 28, 2014 By
The Oregonian reported Wednesday, March 26th, a man once convicted of triple-murder whose conviction was ultimately overturned can sue Oregon for wrongful conviction.
The article indicates procedurally Cannon’s initial attempt to sue Oregon was thwarted by a lower courts decision that his lawsuit was invalid because the time to file his suit lapsed. However, the Oregon Court of Appeals held Cannon did meet the procedural requirements for filing his case in a timely manner. [Read more…]
Second Degree Murder Charges Dismissed Against Vancouver Man
March 14, 2014 By
The Columbian reports charges against a Vancouver, WA man including Murder in the Second Degree were dismissed by the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on Wednesday, March 12. The case locally drew lots of attention in light of the George Zimmerman case in Florida. [Read more…]
Portland Street Level Crime Watch Starts April 1, 2014
March 12, 2014 By
An article in today’s The Oregonian reveals Portland’s increased efforts to fight street level crime starting April 1, 2014. According to the article, the geographic focus of the “street-crime sweep” will be downtown, inner east side and Hawthorne district. [Read more…]
Marijuana Legalization in Oregon Now in the Hands of Petitioners
March 6, 2014 By
An article in today’s The Oregonian discusses the efforts currently underway to legalize marijuana recreationally in the state of Oregon. Akin to laws previously passed in Washington and Colorado. However, if recreational marijuana is legalized in Oregon, it will first start with getting petitions signed, “[a] measure that would ask voters if they want to legalize marijuana – and leave the regulatory details to lawmakers in the next session — doesn’t have enough votes to pass the Senate and appears certain to die in committee”, according to the article. [Read more…]
