Swanlund denied reduced bail in Baker County rape case involving teenage girl
By Logan Bagett on Friday, May 1st, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY – An arraignment was held for 42-year-old Baker City resident Eric Swanlund on multiple minor-involved, sex-related charges on Friday, May 1st.
Swanlund was arrested by Baker City Police on April 23rd on charges involving a female victim who was reportedly 15 years old when the first alleged crimes occurred. On April 30th, he was indicted on charges of Rape in the Third Degree (7 counts), Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree (7 counts), Sodomy in the Third Degree (7 counts), Contributing to the Sexual Delinquency of a Minor (7 counts) Online Sexual Corruption of a Child in the Second Degree (4 counts), Using a Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct (4 counts), Strangulation, and Coercion.
Baker County District Attorney informed our newsroom that “Using a Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct” is a Measure 11 crime that holds a minimum prison sentence of 5 years and 10 months.
The charges stem from incidents allegedly occurring between June of 2024 and April of 2026.
Following Swanlund’s indictment, the defense filed a motion to disqualify Judge Matt Shirtcliff from presiding over the case, “for the reason that [the] Defendant believes that he cannot have fair and impartial trial before such judge,” according to court documents. That motion was denied. The defense also filed a motion to reduce the bail amount from $600,000 (10% would be $60K) to “an amount that the Defendant can afford.” That motion was also denied. DA Baxter stated that bail has now been raised to $750,000.
Swanlund has former affiliations with multiple local nonprofit entities as a volunteer and board member. The Haines Stampede and Rodeo as well as MayDay, Inc. organizations have issued formal statements following Swanlund’s arrest. You can find those here. Indictment records show, “The State further alleges that the Defendant utilized his position of leadership within a non-profit to gain access to the minor victim.”
