| Oregon State Police Investigation of Intensive Management Unit at Penitentiary |
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August 21, 1997
Subject: Oregon State Police Investigation of Intensive Management Unit at Oregon State Penitentiary
On April 15, 1997, the Oregon Department of Corrections contacted the Oregon State Police and requested an investigation into potential criminal conduct on the part of corrections staff at the Intensive Management Unit (IMU) at the Oregon State Penitentiary. Between April 15, 1997, and August of 1997, the Oregon State Police, with the complete cooperation of the Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC), conducted an investigation into an allegation that staff inappropriately slapped an inmate. The State Police investigation uncovered additional allegations of the inappropriate use of force by staff on inmates. In August of 1997, the Oregon State Police concluded their investigation and referred the case to the Marion County District Attorney´s Office for review. The state police investigation involved six detectives and one supervisor and used approximately five hundred man hours.
On August 11th and 12th of 1997, a Marion County Grand Jury was convened to review the results of the state police investigation. Over the two days, the Grand Jury heard and considered testimony from eighteen witnesses.
Based on that testimony, the Grand Jury returned indictments against five ODOC employees. Some ODOC employees have been indicted for acts that specifically relate to abuse of inmates, and other employees were indicted as a result of their testimony before the Grand Jury regarding the investigation.
Indicted and charged with conduct relating to inmates are:
Sergeant Thomas W. Robbins, Jr., an employee of the ODOC for seven years. Robbins has been charged with conduct involving three inmates: Steven Willits, Daniel Addington, and David Cooper.
Robbins has been charged with subjecting inmate Willits to offensive physical contact by striking him in the face. The conduct is charged as occurring while Robbins was working in his role as a correctional officer. The conduct is indicted as occurring between March 1, 1996 and May 1, 1996. The specific crimes charged are Harassment and Official Misconduct in the First Degree. The crimes are charged as occurring as part of the same criminal episode. Harassment is a Class B misdemeanor, carrying a maximum penalty of six months in jail and/or a fine of $2,000. Official Misconduct in the First Degree is a Class A misdemeanor, carrying a maximum penaltyf one year in jail and/or a fine of $5,000.
The investigation by the state police established no connection between these charges and Mr. Willits´ death. Willits´ death was independently investigated by the state police and the Oregon State Medical Examiner´s Office.
Robbins is also charged with subjecting inmate Daniel Addington to offensive physical contact by spraying pepper spray in to his cell. The conduct is charged as occurring while Robbins was working in his role as a correctional officer. The conduct is indicted as occurring between August 20, 1996 and April 30, 1997. The specific crimes charged are Harassment and Official Misconduct in the First Degree. The crimes are charged as occurring as part of the same criminal episode.
Finally, Robbins is charged with subjecting inmate David Cooper to offensive physical contact by striking him. The conduct is also charged as occurring while Robbins was working in his role as a correctional officer. The specific crimes charged are Harassment and Official Misconduct in the First Degree. The conduct is charged as occurring between April 1, 1997 and April 30, 1997, and as part of the same criminal episode. Robbins is also charged with two additional incidents of shocking inmate Cooper with a Nova Spirit "stun gun." This conduct is indicted as occurring when he was acting in his role as a correctional officer. The specific crimes charged from these two episodes are Assault in the Fourth Degree (two counts) and Official Misconduct in the First Degree (two counts). Assault in the Fourth Degree is a Class A misdemeanor.
Also charged is Richard J. Robinson, an employee of the ODOC for seven years. Robinson faces charges identical to Robbins with respect to inmate Willits and Cooper. Robinson was not charged with any conduct relating to inmate Addington.
All of the charges involving the use of force by corrections officers mean that the force was without justification or excuse.
The staff members indicted for their testimony before the Grand Jury are Ronald J. Robertson and Terri Primm.
Ronald J. Robertson has been an employee of the ODOC for seven years. Robertson is charged with testifying falsely before the Grand Jury on August 12, 1997, about his presence when the Nova Spirit stun gun was used on inmate Cooper by Sergeant Robbins. The specific crime charged is Perjury. Perjury is a Class C felony, carrying a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a fine of $100,000. However, under sentencing guidelines, the presumptive sentence would be 90 days in jail.
Terri Primm, an employee of the ODOC for nine years, is charged with testifying falsely before the Grand Jury on August 12, 1997, about her presence when inmate Stanford was run through an X-ray machine. Primm has also been indicted for False Swearing, arising out of the same appearance before the Grand Jury. She has been indicted for testifying falsely about her presence during a conversation about inmate Stanford being run through the X-ray machine. False Swearing is a Class A misdemeanor.
The above defendants all appeared for arraignment on these charges today at the Marion County Court Annex. Additional information about future court appearances were announced as part of the arraignment process, and are now matters of public record from the court.
One additional defendant remains to be arraigned. Information regarding that individual cannot be legally released until that person appears and is arraigned.
No additional individuals are expected to be charged criminally as a result of this investigation. However, ODOC employees may be subject to discipline. Questions about employee status and/or discipline should be directed to the ODOC. No further information will be released by the Marion County District Attorney´s office as these cases are now part of the criminal justice process. Each case will have public appearances from this point forward, and all available public information will be stated in open court.
SUMMARY OF DEFENDANTS AND CHARGES
| Defendant |
Charges |
Penalty |
| Thomas Robbins |
Harassment (x2) |
Class B Misd |
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Assault 4 (x2) |
Class A Misd |
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Official Misconduct 1 (x4) |
Class A Misd |
| Richard Robinson |
Harassment |
Class B Misd |
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Assault 4 (x2) |
Class A Misd |
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Official Misconduct 1 (x3) |
Class A Misd |
| Ronald Robertson |
Perjury |
Class C Felony |
| Terri Primm |
Perjury |
Class C Felony |
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False Swearing |
last revision 2-28-2000 peg cook
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