Former Gang Member Convicted of Gang-Related First-Degree Murder in Santa Cruz County

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – A former Watsonville man was found guilty of gang-related first-degree murder by a Santa Cruz County jury this week after an extensive trial and nearly three days of deliberation. The 29-year-old, Jason Cortez, was convicted for killing his Santa Cruz County Jail cellmate, German Carrillo, on October 13, 2022. Cortez’s conviction follows the separate trial and guilty verdict of another cellmate, Mario Lozano, who was sentenced to multiple life sentences for Carrillo’s murder, as well as an unrelated 2004 slaying in Watsonville. During the trial, Cortez took the stand in his … Read more

Justice Served: Kennewick Serial Rapist Convicted on Multiple Charges After Lengthy Jury Trial

Kennewick, Washington – After a three-week jury trial, a Kennewick man was found guilty on multiple charges related to serial rape. The trial held at the Kennewick County Courthouse concluded with the jury delivering their verdict on Thursday. The accused, whose identity has not been disclosed for legal reasons, faced severe charges for perpetrating a series of sexual assaults. Over the course of the trial, the prosecution presented compelling evidence, including testimonies from survivors as well as DNA evidence linking the accused to the crimes. The jury carefully reviewed this evidence before reaching their decision. … Read more

Portland Firefighter Convicted of Kidnapping After Trapping Pot Thief in Cargo Container, Jury Decides

A firefighter in Portland, Oregon has been found guilty of kidnapping after locking a thief in a cargo container. The jury reached their verdict in the case, which involved a stolen bag of marijuana. The incident occurred when the firefighter, whose identity has not been disclosed, discovered someone trying to steal the marijuana from his truck. In a bid to prevent the thief from getting away, he took matters into his own hands, locking the individual inside a cargo container. During the trial, the firefighter argued that he was acting in self-defense and to protect … Read more

Firefighter Convicted of Kidnapping in Cannabis Theft Retaliation, Faces City Employment Review

ESTACADA, Oregon – A Portland firefighter has been found guilty of two counts of first-degree kidnapping after locking a man inside a shipping container in a bid to recover stolen cannabis. Douglas Bourland, 48, had allegedly scared Colbey Fleishman into revealing the whereabouts of around 260 pounds of marijuana that he had stolen from Bourland’s business, the Oregon Hemp House. The trial lasted for three days before a Multnomah County jury delivered the guilty verdicts against Bourland. He has been on unpaid leave from Portland Fire & Rescue since his indictment in August 2021. The … Read more