Craigen is back
By Terry Murry on Monday, March 20th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Once-convicted murderer George West Craigen was returned to the Umatilla County Jail Friday afternoon. The 60-year-old man from Milton-Freewater will stand trial once again in the shooting death of Cecil “Rob” Carter in 2014. The Oregon Supreme Court sent him back for another trial after determining there were problems with evidence from investigators.
The court ruled that since Craigen had an attorney in another case that was being brought against him, statements he made to detectives without an attorney present could not be used in the trial.
Umatilla County Chief Deputy District Attorney Jaclyn Jenkins said Craigen is being arraigned today (Monday) in the Sixth Circuit Court. At this point it has not been determined who will sit as judge in the case. During his last trial, Dan Hill, Eva Temple, and Christopher Brauer – all of the sixth district – were disqualified. That trial was held before Judge Russell West from Union County.
Jenkins said Presiding Judge Dan Hill and Oregon State Court officials will decide who will be the magistrate presiding over Craigen’s second trial. She added that the state courts will also help make the decision as to who will serve as the defendant’s attorney. In the original trial, it was Dean Gushwa. He tried to resign as counsel and Craigen tried to fire him, but West refused both of them.
Jenkins and Umatilla County District Attorney Dan Primus will handle the prosecution.
The charge against Craigen is a single count of first-degree murder, with no bail. As a person charged with a major crime, he is placed in maximum security. In an earlier interview, Sheriff Terry Rowan said that the only way to move out of that status is good behavior. The last time he was in the jail, Craigen was found guilty of having a shiv in his cell. Rowan said Craigen was very demanding the last time around.
“He was kind of a whiny inmate during his time at the jail,” Rowan said. “He was wanting above and beyond what we provide to other inmates. We had to fight grievances with him.”
Mugshot is a MYCB file photo from Craigen’s last time at the jail.
