Latest Oregon news, sports, business and entertainment

AP-OR–2nd Right Now/1164

MODEST MOUSE SINGER-CITED

Modest Mouse singer cited in Portland vehicle crash

(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Police say the lead singer of the band Modest Mouse was cited for crashing into a City of Portland pickup truck after falling asleep at the wheel.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Isaac Brock failed to stop Wednesday morning as he approached traffic that was stopped near the Morrison Bridge in downtown Portland.

Portland Police spokesman Sgt. Pete Simpson said Brock hit the back of the city truck, which hit a Subaru, which hit another Subaru, which likely hit a fifth car that left the scene perhaps not knowing it had been tapped.

Brock told police he had fallen asleep at the wheel. He was evaluated for signs of intoxication, which responding officers couldn’t confirm.

There were no signs of Brock being otherwise impaired, so police cited him for careless driving.

Simpson said there were no serious injuries and that the investigation is closed.

___

ROBBERY-BACK TO PRISON

Woman pleads guilty to robbery, says prison is like home

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A woman has pleaded guilty in federal court after authorities said she robbed a bank in Wyoming so she could return to prison.

Linda P. Thompson entered the plea to a bank robbery charge Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Cheyenne.

Thompson told the judge that going back to prison would be like going home. Sentencing was set for Oct. 12.

The 59-year-old Thompson was arrested July 27 after a US Bank branch in Cheyenne was robbed by a woman who tossed the money into the air outside and offered some to passers-by. She then sat down and waited for police to arrive.

Thompson was released in June from prison in Oregon, where she had served time for a robbery conviction. Thompson said she unsuccessfully protested her release in Oregon.

1991 SLAYING-SENTENCE OVERTURNED

Sentence for teen in 1991 killing overturned for fifth time

(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Court of Appeals has ruled that a man serving a 50-year prison term for the 1991 slaying of a woman in Clackamas County should be resentenced.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the appeals court determined Wednesday that a Circuit Court judge wasn’t justified in sentencing Todd Davilla to longer than the presumptive 10 years. Judge Eve Miller had cited Davilla’s use of a knife to nearly decapitate Lisa Flormoe and his lack of empathy in her decision for the 50-year sentence.

The appeals court sided with Davilla’s argument that Miller’s explanation didn’t warrant the longer sentence.

Court records show Davilla was 16 when he tried to rape Flormoe and fatally stabbed her when she resisted.

Davilla has had four other sentences overturned since pleading guilty to murder in 1992.

___

KLAMATH FALLS STABBING

Klamath Falls victim dies; suspect to face new charges

(Information from: Herald and News, http://www.heraldandnews.com)

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) — Officials say a 40-year-old man who was stabbed in Klamath Falls after a noise complaint at an apartment complex has died from his injuries.

The Herald and News reports Jesse Richard Toney died early Wednesday. He had been transported to the hospital in critical condition Saturday after suffering a stab wound to the chest.

His alleged attacker, 31-year-old Paul Christian Wuerz, turned himself in to police and appeared in court Monday on charges of attempted murder. He could face new charges now that Toney has died.

Police say Wuerz had complained to Toney and another man, who had been arguing on a sidewalk near the apartment complex, that they were being too loud. Police say Wuerz came out of his apartment and then stabbed Toney before fleeing the scene.

___

HIKER FALLS

New York man dies in fall at Columbia River Gorge trail

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say a New York man died after falling from a trail east of Portland, Oregon.

The Hood River County sheriff’s office said Francesco Goncalves of Eastchester was hiking with friends Tuesday along the popular Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge when he fell about 70 feet into Punchbowl Falls.

Witnesses told investigators the man was underwater when they reached him and had suffered a head injury. He died before emergency crews arrived.

RANCHING STANDOFF

Judge in Ore. standoff case plans 3 days for jury selection

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The federal judge overseeing the Oregon standoff case says she expects jury selection to take three days.

The trial of Ammon Bundy and seven others charged in the 41-day occupation of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is scheduled to start Sept. 7.

U.S. District Court Judge Anna Brown said at a status hearing Wednesday she anticipates 30 potential jurors to be questioned on the first day, followed by additional 30-person groups during morning and afternoon sessions the following two days.

If the jury comes together by then, opening statements would begin Tuesday, Sept. 13.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Barrow told Brown he expects his opening statement to take 45 minutes to an hour.

The defense did not provide such an estimate. Five of the eight defendants have lawyers and the others are representing themselves.

DEPUTY SHOT-VERDICT

Cottage Grove man found guilty of shooting at deputies

(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A Cottage Grove man has been found guilty of trying to kill three Lane County sheriff’s deputies outside a home last September.

One of the deputies, Todd Olson, was hospitalized after Carlos Roa shot him in the area of his groin and upper leg. The Register-Guard reports that Olson embraced his wife in the courtroom after the unanimous verdict was announced Tuesday.

Roa could face decades in prison when he’s sentenced next week on three counts of attempted aggravated murder. He testified last week that he does not remember shooting at deputies.

___

WESTERN WILDFIRES-THE LATEST

The Latest: 2 wildfires in Northern California expand

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Two wildfires burning in Northern California have expanded a bit but fire crews have made some gains and increased containment.

The blaze burning near the scenic Big Sur region of California has charred almost 73 square miles by Wednesday evening. It is 25 percent contained.

Officials are asking for the public’s help to find whoever started the campfire that sparked the wildfire, which destroyed 57 homes. A bulldozer operator also was killed on the fire lines during a rollover accident.

A grass fire in a popular recreational area in Northern California has charred more than 7 square miles since igniting Tuesday afternoon. It spread quickly and prompted the evacuation of an RV and tent campground off Highway 128 near Lake Berryessa and the Napa Valley. No vineyards in wine country are threatened.

The fire is about 10 percent contained.

 

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.