For the first time since Doug Marteeny became Linn County District Attorney in 2013, criminal offenses associated with methamphetamine and heroin did not top a list of felonies and misdemeanors prosecuted by his 13 attorneys.
However, that’s not because of a decrease in the use of illicit drugs in the county, according to Marteeny. It’s because Oregon voters passed a law in 2020 that turned most crimes associated with the possession of small amounts of heroin and meth into violations.
“The biggest change we saw was due to the legalization of hard drugs,” he said. “The only way to correct that is up to the voters. ”
Unauthorized use of a vehicle led the Top 10 list of felonies for 2021 at 101, followed by first-degree theft, 97; unauthorized use of a weapon, 92; identity theft, 80; first-degree encourage child sex abuse (pornography), 75; felon in possession of a firearm, 74; unlawful manufacture of marijuana, 66; attempting to elude a police officer, 63; strangulation, 54; first-degree sexual abuse, 51.
“Unauthorized use of a vehicle is always in the Top 10, usually in the Top 5,” Marteeny said.
Honda cars and Ford pickups usually rank among the favorite brands, he explained, adding that the vehicles are often taken to the Portland area to be sold or chopped up for parts.
He also said that the state has seen a significant increase in illegal industrial marijuana-growing operations since Oregonians legalized its use and production in 2015
“Criminal organizations tell farmers they want to lease the ground to grow hemp and then develop marijuana operations worked by illegal labors which can include human trafficking,” Marteeny said. “They send their products to other states and leave behind an environmental mess. Plus, marijuana uses a lot of water to grow.”
Marteeny also said law enforcement officers are experiencing more crimes against them, a number that has increased for the fifth year in a row.
The Top 10 misdemeanors in 2021 were: DUII, 321; reckless driving, 303; failure to appear on a citation, 180; fourth-degree assault, 179; reckless endangerment, 177; second-degree criminal mischief, 142; harassment, 115; menacing, 115; second-degree criminal trespass, 98; driving while suspended, 79.
– Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer