Second suspect in Crook County killing enters plea
A Portland resident who is the second suspect arrested on murder charges in a fatal Juniper Canyon shooting last fall was arraigned Monday afternoon in a Crook County courtroom.
Justin James Rennels, 27, entered a not guilty plea and was appointed an attorney.
Rennels is the second man arrested on murder charges in the shooting death of a Christmas Valley man last September on a road in the Juniper Canyon area southeast of Prineville, court records confirmed.
Rennels was arrested last week in Washington County and transported to Prineville, then transferred to the Jefferson County Jail, Crook County District Attorney Daina Vitolins told the Central Oregonian newspaper.
Michael Cory Donovan, 25, of Prineville, was arrested shortly after the discovery early on Sept. 3 of gunshot victim James Ross Scott’s body in a car on Southeast Davis Loop at Cayuse Road, sheriff’s deputies said at the time. He later pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, attempted murder, first-degree manslaughter and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon.
Then-Undersheriff John Gautney, recently sworn in as sheriff, said at the time the homicide investigation covered “a very large area with multiple scenes to investigate.”
The newspaper reported an affidavit of probable cause said Scott reportedly had set up a drug deal at the Prineville 7-Eleven parking lot with two unidentified men.
It said the men reportedly followed Scott and his girlfriend, Kindr Bork, in their car as they drove to a home in the Juniper Canyon area. Book told police the drug deal occurred near her mother’s home, and they returned home afterward, but then soon left to help a friend who had run out of gas.
According to the affidavit, as the pair drove to the location, the pickup truck they were riding in stalled. As they tried to restart it, the two men’s car and another pickup came up behind them and shots were fired, one of which fatally wounded Scott.
The Crook County District Attorney’s office would not comment on whether Rennels or Donovan knew each other.
Rennels is expected to back in court on Feb. 10 for a status hearing.
