Biedscheid’s early release provokes sharp reaction

Bret Biedsheid, who was sentenced in June to 90 days in jail for fleeing the scene of a fatal hit and run, was released early from the Deschutes County Jail on Monday.

Biedscheid pleaded guilty in June to leaving the scene of the accident. The original charge of criminally negligent homicide was dropped in a plea deal that avoided a trial and he was sentenced to serve 90 days in jail, but was released just before 5 a.m. on Monday morning.

The early release sparked a new round of outrage from our viewers on social media and our Website. Comments like: “Wow because the full 90 days for a fatality was too much?” Another post –“Thats it!!! Thats horrible!”

Not everyone is as angry, like this post: “Just thinking everyone has their own opinion and I personally don’t feel I have the right to judge or condemn. Only those two men and God actually know what happened that night..”

Another viewer writes “It figures, anyone else would have done the whole sentence.”

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office says that’s not true. Biedscheid was not given special privileges, and was treated like any other inmate.

“I understand he was a good worker,” said Sheriff Larry Blanton.”He did serve on the work crew from the time he was here, credit for time served and good time, and time for serving on the inmate work crew. It’s the same as anybody else.”

Blanton also said Biedscheid’s early release had nothing to do with jail overcrowding.

“This absolutely had nothing to do with unavailable jail beds. He was not treated any differently than any other inmate,” Blanton said.

Biedscheid is a former corporate accountant for Les Schwab in Bend.

NewsChannel 21 tried calling the headquarters Wednesday to get some questions answered, but didn’t receive a call back.

District Attorney Patrick Flaherty’s office released a statement to us Wednesday, saying, “while we respect the courts ultimate decision, this was not what we requested. We requested prison time.”

Biedscheid still must serve three years of supervised probation, continue his psychotherapy for depression and perform 500 hours of community service as part of his plea deal.