Guilty plea, verdict in two JeffCo domestic violence cases

A Madras man who pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend was sentenced Tuesday to 22 months in prison – the same day a Jefferson County jury convicted a Metolius man on attempted murder and other charges, leaving him facing a 7 ½-year sentence in a knife attack on his wife, District Attorney Steve Leriche said Thursday, announcing the outcome of two unrelated domestic violence cases.

Jordan A. Brown, 22, of Madras, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of fourth-degree assault constituting domestic violence and was sentenced by Circuit Judge Rick Knapp to 22 months in prison, plus two years of post-prison supervision, Leriche said in a news release on the two cases.

Fourth-degree assault is usually a misdemeanor, which does not allow for a prison sentence, Leriche noted. But in some situations – where the defendant is a repeat offender, it can be elevated to a felony. One such circumstance involves three prior convictions of fourth-degree assault or similar crimes.

In July 2013, Brown was convicted of a misdemeanor in an assault on an 18-year-old male, Leriche said. In June 2014, he was convicted of assaulting and strangling a girlfriend. In both cases, he was sentenced to supervised probation and given several opportunities to engage in treatment, the DA said.

On May 8 th of this year, an 18-year-old female went to St. Charles Madras for treatment of injuries, Leriche said. Police responded to the hospital, “but the young lady refused to tell the police how she had sustained her injuries,” Leriche said, adding, “Protecting the offender is a common occurrence in domestic violence cases.”

Madras police knew the woman was Brown’s girlfriend, the prosecutor said. Police Detective Steve Webb, “experienced in domestic violence cases,” used search warrants to obtain “very compelling text messages that described how the victim was injured,” Leriche said. He also obtained medical records and jail phone calls.

Through those efforts, “it was revealed that the victim had been knocked to the ground and kicked” by Brown, Leriche said.

“The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office has placed an emphasis on domestic violence cases and has received federal grants to employ a deputy district attorney and investigator dedicated to domestic violence and sexual assault cases,” the DA said.

“As a result of this emphasis, we are able to investigate and successfully prosecute domestic violence cases which we may not have been able to in the past,” Leriche added.

In the second, unrelated case, a two-day trial led to a jury returning a guilty verdict Tuesday evening against Damon David, 24, in a July attack on his wife at a home in Metolius.

The jurors convicted David on charges of attempted murder, first-degree assault unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, reckless endangering and harassment. The attempted murder and assault charges are subject to Measure 11 and carry a mandatory sentence of 90 months, Leriche said. Judge Annette Hillman set sentencing for Nov. 1.

On July 5 th , sheriff’s Deputy Tyler Anderson responded to a home in Metolius on a report of a fight and observed David’s wife bleeding from a cut to her face, Leriche said. An investigation determined David had “brandished a folding tactical knife, threatened to kill (his wife) and stabbed her in the face,” the DA said.

Anderson interviewed the witnesses, seized a knife used in the crime and arrested David. Madras police Detective Webb conducted a follow-up investigation, including a victim interview and obtaining jail calls.

David has previous convictions for second-degree criminal mischief, resisting arrest and fourth-degree assault, the latter also involving his wife, Leriche said.

“This case should serve as a reminder that domestic violence incidents need to be taken seriously by our community,” Leriche said, “and if you become aware that domestic violence is happening to somebody you know, please bring it to the attention of law enforcement.”

Deputy DA Brooks McClain, the county’s lead domestic violence prosecutor, represented the state in the case, while Jennifer Kimble represented the defendant.

The DA thanked the Madras Police Department and OSP “for their hard work and support” in the Brown case, and the sheriff’s office and Madras police for their investigation and support in the David case.