crime

Man gets 3 years for sex crimes

An Albany man was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for sex crimes on Thursday in Linn County Circuit Court.

Miguel Lopez-Garcia, 36, pleaded no contest to attempted first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and attempted first-degree sexual abuse.

He will face deportation after he serves his sentence.

According to prosecutor Coleen Cerda, the adolescent victim was a family friend and staying at Lopez-Garcia’s house at the time of the crimes, in March 2010.

Cerda said the victim went into Lopez-Garcia’s room to get a treat, and he grabbed her, threw her down on the bed and sexually assaulted her.

The victim disclosed the abuse about a year and a half later.

The girl said the incident has helped tear her family apart. “My own mother does not believe me,” she wrote in a letter to Judge Thomas McHill.

“I hope no more kids get hurt by Miguel,” she added.

Lopez-Garcia was initially charged with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree unlawful sexual penetration.

Defense attorney Forrest Reid said his client took a plea deal because he was facing up to 25 years in prison on one of the accusations.

“He continues to deny his culpability regarding these charges,” Reid said.

Several family members of Lopez-Garcia were present during the hearing.

His wife, Renee Lopez, said the report was the result of a family feud, and her husband pleaded to avoid the possibility of decades in jail if the case went to trial.

“I just don’t want everybody to think he was guilty,” she said.

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crime

enforcement

ICE

illegal immigration

illegal aliens

Oregon is heading toward failure

Posted by Cynthia Kendoll on Thu, 04/11/2013

Oregon is at risk of demise. What was once a beautiful state full of promise and potential, has become a magnet for foreign nationals that want the option to pick and choose which laws to obey and which to ignore. When our lawmakers and those who benefit from their presence, plot and scheme to advance the agenda of people in our country illegally then our state is doomed. Law abiding, tax paying citizens will take a back seat to rallying mobs of illegal aliens demanding their rights.

I am a lifelong Oregonian and I fear for the future of my state. The culture of corruption that is ruining our neighbors to the south is now making its way to the steps of our Capitol. The rule of law is what defines a civil society. Oregon is moving away from that and moving toward failure. What a shame.

OFIR VP, Rick LaMountain, wrote a thoughtful article about the choices our Legislature is facing.

Jose Lizarraras-Chacon needs a driver license

Posted by Cynthia Kendoll on Tue, 04/09/2013

Jose Lizarraras-Chacon and his wife Maria Gonzalez-Torres want their driver licenses restored so they can continue to sell heroin. By not reporting the income she earned selling drugs, Maria was able to collect over $1,100 in welfare benefits, as well. They will need to wait a few years, however.

Read the full article here.
Read more about Jose Lizarraras-Chacon needs a driver license

69% Favor Use of U.S. Military on Border to Keep Mexican Drug Violence Out

Voters remain more concerned about Mexican drug violence coming to this country than they are about illegal immigration, and most favor use of the U.S. military on the border to prevent it. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 34% of Likely U.S. Voters are more concerned about illegal immigration. Fifty-seven percent (57%) worry more about drug violence. (To see survey question wording, click here.) Those figures are little changed from four years ago.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 3-4, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. Read more about 69% Favor Use of U.S. Military on Border to Keep Mexican Drug Violence Out

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Ten arrested in Salem food stamp fraud case

A Salem grocery store owner and nine of his customers were arrested in connection with a food stamp scheme that cost Oregon’s nutrition assistance program at least $120,000 during the past year, according to Salem Police.

Officers started watching Pantiaguas Produce on 1805 Silverton Road NE after a customer called to complain that an acquaintance stole the money off his Oregon Trail Card.

“He was upset because he said ‘I am trying to feed my family off that card,’ ” Lt. Steve Birr said.

When officers investigated the theft, they discovered a troubling pattern.

Birr said customers would enter the store with their Electronic Benefits Transfer cards and owner Holver Paniagua-Millan, 22, would do one of two things.

“If you had $160 on your card, he would swipe it for $160 and pay you $80 and keep $80 for himself,” Birr said. “Or he would keep the card, and go out and buy meat for his taco stand and then pay you 50 cents on the dollar for what he ran up on your card.”

Paniagua-Millan was earning about $5,000 per month from the scheme, Birr said.

About 800,000 Oregonians used EBT cards in 2012, said Gene Evans, spokesman for Oregon’s Department of Health Services.

The cards allow people to purchase only certain foods and household products from participating retailers. The state’s fraud team investigates individuals who either falsify information to obtain the cards or try to use them in an unauthorized manner.

On March 7, officers and agents from the U.S. Department of Agriculture decided to start making arrests. During a three-hour stakeout, they arrested Paniagua-Millan and four of his customers. Paniagua-Millan was charged with racketeering, five counts of computer fraud, five counts of food stamp fraud and three counts of identity theft.

Four other people were arrested later.

Retailer fraud — which is alleged in this case — is handled by the federal government.

“We make sure that people who are caught committing fraud are disqualified from the program,” Evans said.

Whether that disqualification is permanent or temporary depends on how much money a person stole and for how long a period of time he or she was stealing.

He pointed out that in 2012, less than one percent of food stamp recipients — about 4,000 cases — were caught using their cards fraudulently.

“We want to make sure that the people who are getting the benefits are the people who need them,” Evans said. “Incidents like this hurt the credibility of the program and people who need it.”

As for Pantiaguas Produce, Evans said the Department of Agriculture would decide whether to suspend the store’s ability to accept EBT payments.

“I can’t speak to what the outcome will be, but this wasn’t inadvertent,” Evans said. “This looks like intentional activity.”

Birr said there could be more arrests in this case as well as new investigations into other retailers.

“We are probably going to pursue more investigations with the Agricultural Department,” Birr said. “I think this is only the tip of the iceberg.”

Paniagua-Millan

Other arrests

The following people were arrested in addition to Paniagua-Millan:
• Meleda Cook, 54, of Keizer faces charges of two counts of food stamp fraud
• Heidi Timberman, 40, of Salem faces charges of food stamp fraud, possession of heroin and a parole violation
• Joseph Sieg, 49, of Salem faces a charge of food stamp fraud
• Mary Vaughn, 55, of Salem faces a charge of food stamp fraud
• Bob Ullom, 51, of Salem faces charges of two counts of food stamp fraud and two counts of identity theft
• Craig Clendennen, 47, of Salem faces charges of food stamp fraud and identity theft
• Amber Roseander, 19, of Salem faces charges of food stamp fraud, attempted food stamp fraud and identity theft
• Ronnie Crawley, 32, of Salem faces a charge of food stamp fraud
• Melanie Farmer, 39, of Keizer faces a charge of food stamp fraud

astaver@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6610, or follow on Twitter @AnnaStaver

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20130326/NEWS/303260027/Ten-arrested-Salem-food-stamp-fraud-case

MCCF Inmate Roster
(Click inmate's Name to go to VINE for that inmate)

26-MAR-2013 07:00 Inmate Roster

MCCF

1. PANIAGUA-MILLAN, HOLVER

PANIAGUA-MILLAN, HOLVER SID: 19965451 LODGED

Lodged: 03/07/2013 19:30 Max: DoB: 06/16/1990

Arrest: SMP Type: PROBABL Docket: 13C41494 Hold Auth: MARION

Charge Bail Status Next Court Release

1 RACKETEER 170000 PRETRIA04/08/2013 08:30 CIRCUI

2 COMP FRAUD CO BAIL PRETRIA04/08/2013 08:30 CIRCUI

3 STAM FRAUD CO BAIL PRETRIA04/08/2013 08:30 CIRCUI

4 COMP FRAUD CO BAIL PRETRIA04/08/2013 08:30 CIRCUI

5 STAM FRAUD CO BAIL PRETRIA04/08/2013 08:30 CIRCUI

6 COMP FRAUD CO BAIL PRETRIA04/08/2013 08:30 CIRCUI

7 STAM FRAUD CO BAIL PRETRIA04/08/2013 08:30 CIRCUI

8 ID THEFT CO BAIL PRETRIA04/08/2013 08:30 CIRCUI

9 ID THEFT CO BAIL PRETRIA04/08/2013 08:30 CIRCUI

10 COMP FRAUD CO BAIL PRETRIA04/08/2013 08:30 CIRCUI

11 STAM FRAUD CO BAIL PRETRIA04/08/2013 08:30 CIRCUI

12 COMP FRAUD CO BAIL PRETRIA04/08/2013 08:30 CIRCUI

13 STAM FRAUD CO BAIL PRETRIA04/08/2013 08:30 CIRCUI

14 ID THEFT CO BAIL PRETRIA04/08/2013 08:30 CIRCUI

Arrest: ICE Type: OTHER Docket: Hold Auth: ICE

Charge Bail Status Next Court Release

1 ICE HOLD NO BAIL ICE

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Senator Merkley to hold Town Hall meetings

Alert date:

March 31, 2013

Alert body:

Below is the current list of Senator Merkley’s Town Halls. If possible, please attend one near you, and ask questions about immigration. Some suggested questions are listed after his scheduled itinerary. If you are able to ask a question, or if the issue is addressed at the meeting, please share the comments with OFIR.

“Senator Jeff Merkley will update constituents on his work in Washington, DC and answer their questions and invite their suggestions about how to tackle the challenges facing Oregon and America.” -- http://www.merkley.senate.gov/oregon/townhalls/

April 1, 2013 @ 10:00 AM

Josephine County Town Hall

234 SW L St. Grants Pass, OR 97526 Get Directions

April 1, 2013 @ 2:00 PM

Curry County Town Hall

550 Chetco Lane, Brookings, OR 97415 Get Directions

April 1, 2013 @ 7:00 PM

Jackson County Town Hall

307 W Wagner St, Talent, OR 97540 Get Directions

April 2, 2013 @ 10:00 AM

Lake County Town Hall

513 Center Street, Lakeview, OR 97630 Get Directions

April 2, 2013 @ 2:30 PM

Klamath County Town Hall

7390 S 6th Street, Klamath, OR 97601 Get Directions

Some Questions for Sen. Merkley at Town Hall meetings, April 2013

1. There have been 7 major amnesties passed by Congress from 1986 to 2000, each resulting in ever-increasing numbers of illegal immigrants. Now another huge amnesty is being pushed. We need enforcement of the immigration laws, not another amnesty. We need E-Verify mandated, to ensure that all employed persons are here legally. E-Verify is accurate and ready for expansion. Will you work to make E-Verify mandatory?

2. Unemployment persists as a major problem in Oregon and the U.S. Businesses can and do hire illegal aliens at substandard wages in construction, agriculture, hotels, restaurants. Why don’t you do more to stop the hiring of illegal aliens?

3. States that have E-Verify laws have seen a decline in the illegal alien population. This shows that many illegal aliens will leave if they cannot find jobs. There’s no need for mass deportations and no one is advocating that. There is no need for another amnesty. Simply require implementation of E-Verify and honestly enforce other immigration laws. This would bring decreases in numbers of illegal aliens and also discourage others from attempting to enter illegally.

4. Giving benefits to illegal aliens such as driver’s licenses, in-state tuition, etc. legitimizes their presence here. This downgrades the value of citizenship and respect for law. Citizenship and the rule of law must mean something or our nation is on a slippery slope downward into the kind of dictatorships that rule in the so-called 3d world.

5. Did you know that between the Censuses of 2000 and 2010, 80% of population growth resulted from immigration (immigrants plus the children of immigrants). The U.S. is already overcrowded. After more than 4 decades of unprecedentedly high immigration, we need a pause, a moratorium on immigration, or we face a steep decline in the quality of life for everyone. Are you willing to say No to the lobbies constantly pushing for amnesties and more immigration?

Representative Bonamici to hold Town Hall meetings

Alert date:

March 31, 2013

Alert body:

Listed below is the current schedule of Representative Bonamici’s Town Halls meetings. If possible, please attend one near you, and ask questions about immigration. Some suggested questions are listed after the schedule. If you get the opportunity to ask a question, or the topic of illegal immigration is discussed, please share those comments with OFIR.

Bonamici Announces Spring Town Hall Meeting Schedule - Events in Seaside, Warrenton, Beaverton, Forest Grove, Columbia City, Portland, Sherwood & McMinnville

“I understand how important it is to listen to the people I represent and to take their ideas back to Washington,” said Bonamici. “These events offer a great opportunity for me to answer questions, get feedback, and listen to the concerns of Oregonians throughout the district.”

Schedule details follow:

Seaside Town Hall Meeting
Date: April 1, 2013
Time: 10:00-11:00am
Location: Seaside City Hall, 989 Broadway, Seaside, OR 97138

Warrenton Town Hall Meeting
Date: April 1, 2013
Time: 6:00-7:00pm
Location: Warrenton Community Center, 225 South Main Avenue, Warrenton, OR 97146

Beaverton Town Hall Meeting
Date: April 20, 2013
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
Location: Beaverton City Hall, Council Chambers, 4755 Southwest Griffith Drive, Beaverton, OR 97005

Forest Grove Town Hall Meeting
Date: April 20, 2013
Time: 4:00-5:00pm
Location: Forest Grove Community Auditorium, 1915 Main Street, Forest Grove, OR 97116

Columbia City Town Hall Meeting
Date: April 21, 2013
Time: 12:45-1:45pm
Location: Columbia City Community Hall, 1850 Second Street, Columbia City, OR

Portland Town Hall Meeting
Date: April 21, 2013
Time: 3:00-4:00pm
Location: Ecotrust, Billy Frank, Jr. Conference Center, 721 NW 9th Ave, Portland, OR 97209

Sherwood Town Hall Meeting
Date: April 22, 2013
Time: 5:30-6:30pm
Location: Sherwood Police Department, Community Room, 20495 SW Borchers Drive, Sherwood, OR 97140

McMinnville Town Hall Meeting
Date: April 29, 2013
Time: 6:00-7:00pm
Location: Chemeketa Community College, Yamhill Valley Campus, Building 1, Room 101, 288 NE, Norton Lane, McMinnville, OR 97128

Some Questions for Rep. Bonamici at Town Hall meetings, April 2013

1. There have been 7 major amnesties passed by Congress from 1986 to 2000, each resulting in ever-increasing numbers of illegal immigrants. Now another huge amnesty is being pushed. We need enforcement of the immigration laws, not another amnesty. We need E-Verify mandated, to ensure that all employed persons are here legally. E-Verify is accurate and ready for expansion. Will you work to make E-Verify mandatory?

2. Unemployment persists as a major problem in Oregon and the U.S. Businesses can and do hire illegal aliens at substandard wages in construction, agriculture, hotels, restaurants. Why don’t you do more to stop the hiring of illegal aliens?

3. States that have E-Verify laws have seen a decline in the illegal alien population. This shows that many illegal aliens will leave if they cannot find jobs. There’s no need for mass deportations and no one is advocating that. There is no need for another amnesty. Simply require implementation of E-Verify and honestly enforce other immigration laws. This would bring decreases in numbers of illegal aliens and also discourage others from attempting to enter illegally.

4. Giving benefits to illegal aliens such as driver’s licenses, in-state tuition, etc. legitimizes their presence here. This downgrades the value of citizenship and respect for law. Citizenship and the rule of law must mean something or our nation is on a slippery slope downward into the kind of dictatorships that rule in the so-called 3d world.

5. Did you know that between the Censuses of 2000 and 2010, 80% of population growth resulted from immigration (immigrants plus the children of immigrants). The U.S. is already overcrowded. After more than 4 decades of unprecedentedly high immigration, we need a pause, a moratorium on immigration, or we face a steep decline in the quality of life for everyone. Are you willing to say No to the lobbies constantly pushing for amnesties and more immigration?

Senator Wyden to hold Town Halls

Alert date:

March 31, 2013

Alert body:

Here is the current list of Senator Wyden’s Town Halls. If possible, please attend one near you, and ask questions about immigration. Some suggested questions are listed after the schedule. If you’re able to ask a question, please send OFIR (ofir@oregonir.org) a note about the response. Thank you.

Wyden Schedules Six Eastern Oregon Town Halls in Harney, Grant, Baker, Union, Wallowa and Malheur Counties

The public is Invited to Meetings in Burns on April 2, John Day and Baker City on April 3, La Grande and Joseph on April 4 and Ontario on April 5

PORTLAND, OR – Oregon Senator Ron Wyden will hold his annual town halls in Harney, Grant, Baker, Union, Wallowa and Malheur counties from April 2 to April 5. The meetings will be held in the cities of Burns on April 2, John Day and Baker City on April 3, La Grande and Joseph on April 4 and Ontario on April 5. Wyden has been holding town halls in every Oregon county every year beginning in 1996.

Harney County Town Hall Meeting
Date: Tuesday, April 2, 2013; Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Harney County Senior Center, 17 S. Alder, Burns

Grant County Town Hall Meeting
Date: Wednesday. April 3, 2013; Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Grant Union Junior-Senior High School, 911 S Canyon Blvd.. John Day

Baker County Town Hall Meeting
Date: Wednesday, April 3, 2013; Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Baker High School Auditorium, 2500 E Street, Baker City

Union County Town Hall Meeting
Date: Thursday, April 4, 2013; Time: 10 a.m.
Location: La Grande High School, Auditorium (Use Second Street entrance)
708 K Avenue, La Grande

Wallowa County Town Hall Meeting
Date: Thursday, April 4, 2013; Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Joseph Charter School, 400 E. Wm. E. Williams Ave., Joseph

Malheur County Town Hall Meeting
Date: Friday, April 5, 2013; Time: 10:30 a.m. (MDT)
Location: Ontario High School Gymnasium, 1115 Idaho Avenue, Ontario

-----------------------------------------

Some Questions for Sen. Wyden at Town Hall meetings, April 2013

1. There have been 7 major amnesties passed by Congress from 1986 to 2000, each resulting in ever-increasing numbers of illegal immigrants. Now another huge amnesty is being pushed. We need enforcement of the immigration laws, not another amnesty. We need E-Verify mandated, to ensure that all employed persons are here legally. E-Verify is accurate and ready for expansion. Will you work to make E-Verify mandatory?

2. Unemployment persists as a major problem in Oregon and the U.S. Businesses can and do hire illegal aliens at substandard wages in construction, agriculture, hotels, restaurants. Why don’t you do more to stop the hiring of illegal aliens?

3. States that have E-Verify laws have seen a decline in the illegal alien population. This shows that many illegal aliens will leave if they cannot find jobs. There’s no need for mass deportations and no one is advocating that. There is no need for another amnesty. Simply require implementation of E-Verify and honest enforcement of other immigration laws. This would bring decreases in numbers of illegal aliens and also discourage others from attempting to enter illegally.

4. Giving benefits to illegal aliens such as driver’s licenses, in-state tuition, etc. legitimizes their presence here and rewards illegal behavior. Citizenship and the rule of law must be cherished and respected, or our nation is on a slippery slope into the culture of corruption from which many immigrants claim to be escaping. What are you doing to strengthen U.S. immigration law enforcement?

5. Did you know that between the Censuses of 2000 and 2010, 80% of population growth resulted from immigration (immigrants plus the children of immigrants). The U.S. is already overcrowded. After more than 4 decades of unprecedentedly high immigration, we need a pause, a moratorium on immigration, or we face a steep decline in the quality of life for everyone. Are you willing to say No to the lobbies constantly pushing for amnesties and more immigration?

Mark your calendar - Saturday, April 6 @2:00pm

Alert date:

March 22, 2013

Alert body:

Take the weekend off, enjoy the Spring weather, go for a drive or work in your garden. It's time to step back and take a little time for ourselves.

But, be certain to mark you calendar for Saturday, April 6 from 2 - 4pm for OFIR's next meeting in Salem at the Best Western Mill Creek Inn, across from Costco, in Salem.

Bring a friend, bring your anger, bring your ideas and we will strategize about how to defeat the driver license bill lurking in the shadows at the Capitol.

Man gets 25 years in child's death

A 24-year-old Keizer man will serve 25 years in prison in connection with the 2011 death of his girlfriend’s 4-year-old son.

Marion County Presiding Judge Jamese Rhoades handed down the sentence Tuesday to Gerardo Chavarria, who changed his plea to guilty to charges of manslaughter and two counts of criminal mistreatment of Sebastian Iturbe, waiving his right to a trial.

A jury trial had been scheduled for the first week of April. Chavarria’s convictions will result in his deportation from the United States after he finishes his sentence.

After a change to the indictment, which changed a murder charge to manslaughter, Rhoades asked Chavarria what he did the day of Nov. 5 that made him feel he was guilty of causing Sebastian’s death.

“The day this happened I had just gotten up. I was drinking beer, watching TV with Sebastian,” Chavarria said. “He did something, I don’t remember what, that knocked over the bottle of beer. For whatever reason I got angry, and I hit his head against the floor.”

The gasps of Sebastian’s mother, Erika Iturbe, and her parents rang out in an otherwise quiet courtroom as Chavarria said he pounded the boy’s head against the floor with his hands. Sebastian then became quiet, he said, and he put the boy to bed.

“I got nervous. I didn’t know what to do,” Chavarria said.

He said he took Sebastian to Salem Hospital two to three hours later. The boy was later transferred to Oregon Health and Science University where he died of blunt force trauma to the head Nov. 6, 2011.

According to documents written by Keizer police, Chavarria first told a detective that Sebastian fell and hit his head outside the family’s basement.

Medical staff said the boy’s injuries weren’t consistent with that kind of fall.

According to the statement, Chavarria later said he pushed the boy with a plastic child carrier and saw him fall down the stairs, hitting his head multiple times.

Chavarria recounted two other incidents in court in which he caused injury to Sebastian, including one when he hit the boy with a belt and another when he hit the boy on the shoulder with his sandal.

District Attorney Walt Beglau said that he wanted to bring the case back to Sebastian.

Through organ donations, Beglau said, Sebastian saved three separate lives.

“It’s hard to describe with words what Sebastian’s death has caused on his mother and family who are here today,” he said. “For his family, it’s been loneliness, anger that comes and goes and irrepressible grief.”

Erika Iturbe and her parents were each given an opportunity to speak in court.

“We miss his laugh, his smiles ... I will never get to hear him say ‘I love you Mommy,’ ” Erika Iturbe said to Chavarria, who looked away and hung his head. “I can’t say I forgive you because I don’t. I hate you with all my heart.”

Chavarria refused the opportunity to speak in court, but after the hearing, his attorney Stephen A. Lipton spoke on his behalf.

“He is genuinely remorseful,” Lipton said. “He’s getting a sentence better than what he had the right to expect.”

Before the hearing, Rhoades viewed a home video of Sebastian playing and singing to his sister.

“It’s difficult to talk to you knowing you killed this beautiful little boy,” Rhoades said to Chavarria. “He was a delightful little boy and a beautiful child and now he’s gone.”

As recommended by deputy district attorney Jodie Bureta, Rhoades imposed a 25-year sentence, one she felt was not hard enough.

“Twenty-five years may not be enough, but it is what the court will impose,” Rhoades said.

NOTE: Gerardo Chavarria - ICE hold
Read more about Man gets 25 years in child's death

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