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Pre-sentencing

Interview with Jake, misty, Sam, Bruce and Brian

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Jake: It was a long drawn out process. The D.A. was still trying to build his case. It took 8 months for a trail.
misty: i HAD COURT FAIRLY QUICKLY THEN I AWAITED CLACKAMAS COUNTY TO COME FOR ME SO I COULD CLEAR UP MY HOLD THERE SO I WOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO THE TX DORM
Sam: I had a long drawn out process. I'm glad I had bail money because I would have sat a long time in jail. I had FOUR DIFFERENT LAWYERS. One got a case over load, two weren't qualified enough to handle my case, and finally the one I paid for. Glad I did that!!! So my pre-sentencing took 7 months. 10 court appearances and 4 days time served before we saw the judge.
Bruce: Met with court appointed lawyer who briefly told me my options.
Brian: In May of 2011, I was involved with a traffic collision (no other involved parties; minor private property damage) and charged with misdemeanor DUII. I was released to a local hospital on civil hold following the arrest before going home and later reporting to Washington County Court for my arraignment.

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested.
Jake: No
misty: NO, I WAS ARRESTED WHEN I WENT TO SEE MY PROBATION OFFICER
Sam: No they never came to my house. Probably for the fact that I didn't live in Washington County. I was already being supervised by a probation officer. If they would have questioned me I would have not answered a single question. It is there job to prove a case not for me to help them build one against me!!!
Bruce: no
Brian: No; the police did not interact with me at all between the time of my arrest and the date of my first court appearance. The arrest was due solely to a concerned citizen contacting the police when I drove my vehicle off of the road and into a yard in my neighborhood.

JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall.
Jake: I took a plea so it went smooth and fast.
misty: QUICK, AND IN JAIL CLOTHES SO IT WAS EMBARRASING BUT I PUT MYSELF IN THE POSITION
Sam: The first court date was my arraignment. I only took ten minutes but it took more than an hour for my name to be called. They went in alphabetical order and my name was last on the list. Then I had a call date. That's when one of the lawyers fell out. So I got another call with a different lawyer. Two weeks went by they then fell out. So another call date with lawyer #3. They then asked for another call date. They fell out. I said forget this I'll get my own!!! So three months later finally a trail! Or I should say the day I took the deal.
Bruce: We were all thrown in the room to wait while everyone else went. Then when you were brought out it was efficient.
Brian: Criminal court was busy that day, as the docket had more than three dozen cases, ranging from petty theft and DUII to felony robbery. On the advice of my attorney, since I expected to be arrested upon sentencing, we requested a 48-hour holdover so I would not be taken into custody that day -- my request was granted, giving me 48 hours to prepare for my upcoming sentence of six months of incarceration.

JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of?
Brian: I was charged with DUII, reckless driving and criminal trespass. I was convicted of misdemeanor DUII; the other charged were dropped when I changed my plea to guilty of DUII.

Read about sentencing in the Washington County Jail