For the first time in nearly a decade, A misdemeanor cases will be prosecuted in Hermiston Municipal Court.
The Hermiston City Council voted unanimously on Monday to bring back A misdemeanors to municipal court. Misdemeanors in Oregon are put into three categories, A, B and C with A misdemeanors being the most serious misdemeanor offenses. Those include DUIIs, second-degree theft and criminal mischief. If convicted of an A misdemeanor, the penalty can be up to 364 days in county jail and $6,250 in fines.
In April 2014, the council voted to have A misdemeanors be prosecuted in Umatilla County Circuit Court. City Manager Byron Smith said the decision, initially, was for a 20-month period. The city eventually decided to leave A misdemeanors with the circuit court.
Smith said the city has been able to increase the efficiency of the municipal court over the past nine-plus years by implementing a new case management system and other process improvement efforts. Those increased efficiencies will now allow A misdemeanors to return to Hermiston Municipal Court.
Both Smith and Municipal Court Judge Cameron Bendixsen said the municipal court can now adjudicate cases much quicker than circuit court.
Bendixsen said there were times when he was a defense attorney when he saw DUII cases fall through the cracks and never be prosecuted.
“Not to place blame at all, but the district attorney’s office can be overworked, and their caseload is very heavy,” Bendixsen told the council on Monday.
Councilor Jackie Linton asked if the addition of A misdemeanors will mean more hours for the municipal court judge and the city’s public defender.
Bendixsen said it would increase their hours but could not speculate by how much. He noted, however, that DUIIs are typically the most commonly prosecuted cases nationwide and that the court would likely see more jury trials.
Smith said there is already money in the budget to cover any additional expenses that may arise by bringing back A misdemeanors to municipal court.
