Metcalfe sentenced on multiple felonies
By Terry Murry on Monday, June 14th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
Michael James Metcalfe has entered guilty pleas to charges of second-degree murder, four counts of first-degree robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, second-degree burglary, and first-degree solicitation to commit murder. The decision to plead guilty was the result of a settlement conference earlier this month, overseen by retired Judge Greg Baxter from Baker County.
Baxter sentenced Metcalfe, who was 20 at the time of his arrest last year, to life in prison, with no possibility of a reduction in sentence until he has served at least 32.5 years.
The charges against Metcalfe stem from an investigation mounted by the Milton-Freewater Police Department. The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other state and local agencies participated in that probe. The investigation determined that Metcalfe committed crimes against eight victims in the Milton-Freewater area in five criminal episodes over the course of three weeks.
The investigation also determined that on Jan. 3, 2020, Metcalfe murdered George Martin, and was also responsible for robbing victims in the Red Tea Garden in late 2019, First Stop Market on Jan. 3, 2020, and in an alley on Jan. 5, 2020. It was also determined that while he was in Umatilla County Jail, Metcalfe solicited another inmate to murder a witness who testified before a Umatilla County grand jury about the murder of Martin.
