PRESS RELEASE

 

On May 1, 2018 in Baker County Circuit Court, visiting Umatilla County Circuit Court Judge Jon Lieuallen sentenced Harold Irvin Wilkerson of the 3700 block of Campbell Street Baker City, Oregon, to 55 months with the Oregon Department of Corrections. Wilkerson pled guilty to Assault in the Third Degree, a Class C Felony. As part of his plea agreement with the Baker County District Attorney’s Office, a charge of Assault in the First Degree and Assault in the Second Degree were dismissed. Wilkerson was charged with cutting Tyler Worstell with a knife during an altercation which occurred on July 17, 2017. The resolution to the case came following a full-day settlement conference between the parties conducted by Judge Lieuallen.

The injuries sustained by Tyler Worstell occurred during a fight between Wilkerson and three individuals. Tyler Worstell the victim, Heidi Logsdon and David Russell, all claimed that Wilkerson came to the scene at Madison Street near Safeway and confronted them with a knife. They alleged that Wilkerson attacked Russell and Worstell and Logsdon came to the aid of Russell. At some point during the altercation, Logsdon used a stun gun on Wilkerson. During the altercation, Worstell was stabbed by Wilkerson. Wilkerson claimed that Russell was the initial aggressor. “Although the state anticipated a self-defense argument at trial, we did not feel that Wilkerson acted in self-defense and was the initial aggressor.” One of the primary reasons to allow Wilkerson to plead to a lesser charge was the input of the victim. The victim no longer resides in the area and did not want to go through trial. We wanted Wilkerson to be accountable for Worstell’s injuries but also needed to consider all aspects of the case including victim input.”

The Judge also ordered that Wilkerson will be responsible for any medical bills that Worstell incurred as part of restitution in the case and ordered a restitution hearing within 90 days.