Reporter for The Canyon Weekly
Sex offender agrees to five years for new offense
A Mill City sex offender has agreed to serve five years in prison after allegedly reoffending, with a plea and sentencing hearing set for next month.
Jason Matthew Martin, 42, signed a plea agreement June 13 in Linn County Circuit Court and is scheduled to plead no-contest July 10 to a lesser charge of attempted first-degree sexual abuse. He was originally arrested May 14 for first-degree sexual abuse, which carries a minimum of 75 months in prison.
The agreement said Martin would serve 60 months in prison, while Judge Brendan Kane reserves the right to accept or reject the plea and set the terms of sentencing on July 10.
Martin was arrested May 14 by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office for allegedly molesting a girl younger than 14 years old in March, who was described in court filings as “particularly vulnerable.”
At the time Martin was on probation related to similar offenses against a girl younger than 12 years, for which he was convicted of attempted first-degree sexual abuse in 2012.
Warrant issued for gun threat
A Scio man is wanted by authorities for allegedly threatening another man with a firearm last year, according to court records.
Brad William Petersen, 62, was charged May 29 in Linn County Circuit Court with menacing and unlawful use of a weapon for allegedly threatening a Salem man with a gun on April 3, 2023.
Charging documents said Petersen’s alleged actions placed the victim “in fear of imminent serious physical injury.” Court records did not indicate why there may have been a delay in reporting the incident.
A felony warrant was issued for Petersen’s arrest and as of press time the warrant remained active.
Arrest for alleged sex abuse
A Scio man has been arrested for alleged sexual abuse of a young girl and is facing several years in prison if convicted.
Tyrel William Clark, 39, was charged June 12 in Linn County Circuit Court with first-degree sexual abuse, which carries a minimum of 75 months in prison.
According to court records, Clark allegedly subjected a female victim younger than 14 years old to sexual contact between Oct. 11, 2022 and March 4, 2024.
He was released from the Linn County Jail June 13 on $50,000 bail and is due back in court July 8. While released Clark may have no contact with the victim or with any minors.
Probation for alleged child assault
A Scio woman was sentenced to probation including mental health treatment after accepting a plea deal for allegedly assaulting a young boy.
Kortnee Rose Wainman, 31, pleaded no contest June 14 in Linn County Circuit Court to third-degree assault and was sentenced to 36 months of probation.
During this time she must undergo mental health evaluation and treatment, and complete classes in parenting and anger management. If probation is successfully completed, Wainman may apply to have the felony charge reduced to a misdemeanor.
Wainman was arrested March 22 for an incident that day in which she allegedly caused physical injury to a boy younger than ten years old, according to charging documents. While on probation Wainman may not have contact with the alleged victim except as specifically allowed by the court.
