District Attorney’s Upset, Nov. 4

Coos Co. District Attorney R. Paul Frasier is ticked off. He’s not the only District Attorney in Oregon upset after the Governor commuted sentences of youth who were “sentenced prior to the effective date of (2019) SB 1008 and did not benefit from its changes to our juvenile justice system.” In his 20-page news release, Frasier stated “I personally hoped that before any action was taken by the Governor, that the District Attorneys for the counties where the youth where adjudicated would be consulted as to the facts of the case and more importantly, to all the District Attorneys to notify the victims and their families that the Governor was considering commuting the sentence of the youth that had victimized them. Sadly my hope was misplaced.” Frasier says the Commutation Order includes the name of Raymond Perkins. He was 14 at the time he killed Doctor Judith Elman on the beach north of Seven Devils Wayside. He also sexually assaulted her. He applied three-times for commutation from previous Governors, as well as Governor Brown, but was denied. Under the new order, “if granted parole, he could be released as early as next year.” Frasier says his office will attend the parole hearing. Also on the list, Jerald Michael Brown who is currently 19-years old. He was convicted of Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree in 2017 involving a four-year old girl he baby-sat. The third person is Xavier Johnston. He was 19-years old when he was convicted of rape on two different occasions involving the same underage girl. He is scheduled for release next year. “As indicated, I do not know what process the Governor will use in deciding whether to commute the sentences of Mr. Brown or Mr. Johnston, It is my hope that the Governor will consider input from not only my office but from the victims of their crimes before deciding whether or not to commute the sentences of these individuals.”