District Attorney
Clackamas County recorded five homicides during 2022. The homicides represent four incidents of homicidal violence as two of the victims were killed in a single incident. One homicide remains unsolved, another resulted in a murder-suicide and the remaining three homicides resulted in arrests and grand jury indictments:
The Honorable Michael Wetzel, Judge of the Clackamas County Circuit Court sentenced three former Oregon Department of Transportation workers and one of their spouses today on multiple charges stemming from a theft and reselling scheme spanning from approximately 2004 to 2020 that has estimated to cost taxpayers $5-6 million.
The former ODOT employees abused their official positions to purchase equipment using ODOT vendor accounts, created fraudulent invoices, stockpiled the fraudulently purchased equipment and resold the items for personal profit.
William Nelson Barnes of Portland, Ore was sentenced to 15 years in state prison for multiple counts of Aggravated Identity Theft, Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument and Obliteration of Identification Numbers on Firearms.
Investigators found that Barnes identity theft activities affected 9,000 people. He used data from a stolen hard drive from a title and mortgage company and stolen U.S. Mail to gather personal data of his victims.
DDA Alex Hayes and Management Analyst Maggie Gilman Holm helped out at the Rosemont Ridge Middle School Career Day providing mock interviews and an exhibition booth representing our office.
For most students, this was their first experience of a “job interview,” and gave them the opportunity to learn about the great career opportunities here in the DA’s office.
In January 2023, Senior DDA Bryan Brock and DDA Alex Hayes took their recruiting efforts to a national level in Washington, DC, at the first NDAA (National District Attorney’s Association) job fair for law students and recent graduates.
Over 50 employers from prosecution offices across the U.S. set up booths to recruit from the law schools around Washington, D.C. Activities included a meet and greet at the Vue sky bar overlooking the Washington Monument and White House.
An annual tradition in our office is to purchase gifts for foster children in need. We once again worked with Oregon City DHS and their giving tree program.
Bryan Brock, Jill Chapman, Krysti Bellmore, and John Wentworth take part in the 2021 Walk Like MADD 5K, raising over $400 for Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
DA staff help pass out hygiene products, provide meals, assist folks with their laundry needs and provide access to warm showers at a LoveOne event. learn more
Swearing in of Emily Korte as our newest DDA
Ben Klassen (University of Oregon 2020) was sworn in on September 2021 as a Clackamas County Deputy DA. Ben clerked for our office from May 2019-May 2020.
Meggie Kirchner (Lewis & Clark Law School 2021) was first hired in May 2020 as a certified law clerk. She recently returned to our Misdemeanor unit.
Congratulations to new Deputy District Attorney Grace Hoffa. She was sworn into the Oregon State bar on Oct. 13 and deputized by District Attorney John Wentworth the next day.
DA John Wentworth swearing in Deputy DA Tiffany Escover. The ceremony took place in May of 2022
Judge Kathie F. Steele swearing in Deputy DA Randi Hall. The ceremony took place in the judge’s Courtroom in July 2021.
Deputy DA Alexander Hayes (center) named Prosecutor of the Year by the OSP Fish and Wildlife Division and Oregon Hunters Association.
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