Craigen will need outside judge
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, March 21st, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The retrial of once-convicted George West Craigen, 60, of Milton-Freewater is without a judge. Umatilla County District Attorney Dan Primus said that all five of the Sixth Circuit Court judges have either been disqualified or have recused themselves.
That was the case last time around, when Craigen was originally tried for the murder of Cecil “Rob” Carter in 2014. After several delays, the case was taken over by Union County Judge Russell West.
Primus said that the defendant is still without an attorney because the lawyer in the last trial, Dean Gushwa, has refused to take the case. The case has been assigned to the Oregon Public Defense System, and that group has not announced which of its public defenders will take the case.
Bail was set at $5 million when Craigen appeared via video on Monday. Primus said he will be filing a “proof is evident, presumption is strong” motion with the court. If granted, that means Craigen will be held without bail.
The case was ordered to be retried by the Oregon Supreme Court because of evidentiary problems.
