Jail is ready for Craigen’s return
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, February 8th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – Once-convicted killer George West Craigen is returning to Umatilla County for a new trial in the murder of Cecil “Rob” Carter in 2014 in Milton-Freewater. During his last stay there, he was found guilty of having a shiv in his cell. Sheriff Terry Rowan says the county has not yet been notified about when Craigen will return.
He says his office is hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.
“He’s very challenging,” Rowan said. “We anticipate that he’ll again be challenging when he returns. We’ll just have to prepare the best we can for it.”
Rowan said that when being lodged at the jail, those charged with serious crimes are classified as maximum security. They are able to reduce that based on good behavior. The sheriff said the thing he remembers most about Craigen was how demanding he was.
“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.”
The Oregon Supreme Court overturned Craigen’s conviction and is sending him back for trial based on a procedural error. District Attorney Dan Primus and Chief Deputy District Attorney Jaclyn Jenkins will handle the prosecution. A judge has not been named. In his last trial, all of the district’s judges were either recused or disqualified and an outside judge was brought in to hear the case.
Mugshot is a MYCB file photo
