The mugs are back

By on Thursday, February 15th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

UMATILLA COUNTY – The Oregon Legislature passed a law barring the release of mug shots for people arrested for crimes, but there are exceptions to that law.

The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page is making use of one of those exceptions. Mug shots can be released if the suspect is indeed convicted of the crime or crimes in question. Capt. Sterrin Ward said it took time to get a system in place and it’s still not perfected.

“We had to prioritize the time to develop specific procedures related to obtaining the notice of judgement from the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office, verifying it, updating our case files with a disposition, searching for the correct jail booking photo to be tagged as releasable and assigning the staff members who are responsible for the process, and then responsible for pushing it out to the public information officer for publication on Facebook,” she said.

Ward said it has been intermittent, but they believe the procedure has been fine-tuned enough to become a regular feature on the UCSO Facebook page.

Photo from Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office Facebook:

CONVICTION NOTICE

In cooperation with the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office

Shane Lance PURCELL (38), Athena

Count number 1, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, 164.135, Felony Class C, committed on or about 05/12/2022. Conviction based upon a Jury Verdict of Guilty on 01/24/2024.

Count number 3, Theft in the First Degree, 164.055, Felony Class C, committed on or about 05/12/2022. Conviction is based upon a Jury Verdict of Guilty on 01/24/2024.

Count number 4, Theft in the First Degree, 164.055, Felony Class C, committed on or about 05/12/2022. Conviction is based upon a Jury Verdict of Guilty on 01/24/2024.