Beehler decides not to settle
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, April 25th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HEPPNER – A settlement conference in the case against alleged murderer Caleb Beehler, 40, of Boardman has fallen through. Morrow County District Attorney Justin Nelson said that Dean Gushwa, Beehler’s defense attorney, reported his client wants to go ahead with his trial.
Beehler faces a second-degree murder charge in the fatal shooting of Richard Broadbent, who had been the defendant’s stepfather since Beehler was 6. With the decision to move forward to trial, Judge Jon Lieuallen has asked Nelson and Gushwa to work together on a calendar for motions.
“In about a month we’ll come back to the court to report that we’ve talked and offer a tentative schedule we think could work,” he said. “At that time, we’ll also try to work with the court to find a decent time for this jury trial.”
Nelson estimates the trial could begin in the fall. He says Beehler has raised a claim of insanity and scheduling anticipated expert witnesses could delay things.
