Man convicted of Grant County child sex crimes to be released sooner than expected
By Logan Bagett on Monday, October 30th, 2023 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
CANYON CITY – Grant County District Attorney Jim Carpenter has issued a release regarding a man who will spend fewer years in prison on crimes committed in Grant County, due to a change in the sentencing guidelines for non-unanimous jury verdicts. According to Carpenter, Robert Joiner was convicted of multiple serious sex crimes against minor children in 2006. Several of the verdicts were unanimous, while some of the verdicts were not unanimous, but had at least 10 jurors voting to convict. In 2020, the United States Supreme Court determined that non-unanimous verdicts were unconstitutional.
Carpenter states that, “For Joiner’s convictions in 2006, that came by unanimous jury decision, he is scheduled to remain in prison at least until 2027. The convictions based on non-unanimous jury verdicts would have extended that time to 2033.”
Also stated, “…Grant County District Attorney Jim Carpenter, will not be retrying the charges which will be reversed due to non-unanimous jury verdicts. The victims in this case disagree with Carpenter’s assessment. Carpenter has contacted the Oregon Department of Justice for a review of the case and the appointment of an attorney to re-prosecute the matter should the DOJ decide to do so.”
Find the DA’s full press release below:
(Press Release from Grant County District Attorney Jim Carpenter)
