Former St. Vincent de Paul of Bend executive director admits to drug delivery; nearly 4-year prison term expected
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The former executive director of St. Vincent de Paul of Bend pleaded guilty Thursday to delivery of methamphetamine, a felony charge that is expected to result in a nearly four-year prison sentence.
Deschutes County Circuit Judge Beth Bagley set a Dec. 4 sentencing date for Gary Lee Hewitt, 58, of Redmond, who was arrested and indicted in August on felony charges of delivering methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of “substantial quantities” (over 10 grams) of the drug.
On Thursday, the judge asked Hewitt, who appeared by phone, if he had met with his attorney, was satisfied with his legal representation and similar questions asked at the time a guilty plea petition is received and accepted.
On the plea petition Hewitt signed Friday, he said prosecutors agreed to recommend a 41-month prison term and three years’ post-prison supervision “with drug conditions.”
Because of that "substantial quantity" language, the crime is a Class B felony, so the maximum any defendant could be sentenced to is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, said Deputy District Attorney Andrew Doyle. However, based on Hewitt's criminal history, his maximum potential sentence was 65 months and a $250,000 fine.
Hewitt also was charged in February with a Class A misdemeanor count of failure to report as a sex offender, after a 2011 arrest and guilty plea to two of 10 counts of encouraging a child sexual abuse. He was given a 30-month state prison term.
Court records indicate the failure to register charge will be dismissed at the time of sentencing on the drug charge.
Shortly after his arrest, St. Vincent de Paul Board President Patty Christopher said that while Hewitt made them aware from the start of his conviction and past, he had been “a stellar employee,” and that news of the drug charges “came as a complete shock.” Hewitt helped the organization develop St. Vincent’s Place, their high-barrier emergency shelter for unhoused individuals.
