McDonald awaits another trial date
By Terry Murry on Monday, December 19th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Jonathan Lee McDonald’s case is still without a trial date. The 34-year-old Milton-Freewater man has been jailed since Jan. 19, 2020, charged with three counts of first-degree robbery, four counts of second-degree robbery, and one count of murder in the death of George Martin on Jan. 3, 2020.
McDonald’s most recent trial date was supposed to have been right after this year’s Pendleton Round-Up. This delay was because the defendant had a new lawyer appointed by the judge. Umatilla County District Attorney Dan Primus said it takes a while for new lawyers to get up to speed.
“Once they are up to speed, then we can start working on if there are any additional motions and trying to fit in where we can find the scheduling date for four attorney’s and a courtroom,” Primus said.
Originally, McDonald had a co-defendant. That’s no longer the case. Michael James Metcalfe entered a guilty plea to four counts of first-degree robbery, second-degree murder, and a number of related charges in June 2021. He was sentenced to a life sentence with the possibility of parole. It is stipulated that he has to serve 32.5 years before he can apply for a sentence reduction.
File photo from McDonald’s arrest in 2020
