Outsider criminals prove costly to coast counties

NEWPORT, Ore. – From convicted family murderer Christian Longo to the more recent shooting death of 17-year-old Marissa Manwarren, of Portland, the Oregon Coast has attracted a criminal element along with its tourists.

“For people who want to hide behaviors, we end up being the destination,” said Bernice Barnett, Lincoln County district attorney.

Crimes committed by outsiders bring an added financial burden to coastal counties, and Barnett’s office is conducting an informal survey to examine the impact.

Since May 20, 14 percent of those who spent a night in jail were not county residents, according to the survey.

“Let’s say that I have an extra 100 DUIs every summer. I’m a small county. I have a small staff. Of course that costs money,” Barnett said.

Of the criminal cases filed in 2005, 71 percent involved area residents, while 29 percent were visitors, said Trial Court Administrator Nancy Lamvik.

Funding of the state courts system is based on caseload and other factors, Lamvik said.

But prosecutors’ offices are funded mainly based on the local population through county taxes, Barnett said.

“The state has absolutely abdicated its job of properly funding the local DA’s offices,” she said. “Boy, am I going to be in trouble for saying that.”

The state can no longer pay for extra prosecutors, or in major cases, witness fees, said Barnett, who fears her staff of nine lawyers might be cut to eight if federal grant funding isn’t renewed.

Funding is an issue in a region that has seen several high-profile criminal cases in recent years.

On June 15, Manwarren was found murdered near Beverly Beach State Park. Authorities believe she was killed in Benton County and dumped at the coast. A suspect is in custody in Portland.

On Jan. 13, 2002, four Lebanon teens were killed when their car was hit by a drunken driver near Cape Foulweather. Pedro Perez-Neri of Klamath Falls was convicted of four counts of second-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence and other charges.

Longo, who is on death row, murdered his wife and three young children in Lincoln County in December 2001, shortly after moving to Oregon.

In Tillamook County to the north, Edward Morris killed his wife and three children and left them in a forested area. He is serving four life terms in prison.

“We love our visitors, but some people, unfortunately, chose to do things here that are not appropriate,” said Lincoln County Commissioner Bill Hall.