- Outgoing Multnomah County DA Mike Schmidt is petitioning to reduce sentences for eight violent criminals, including a murderer, sparking widespread criticism.
- Schmidt’s progressive policies, blamed for rising crime, are seen as prioritizing offenders over victims and public safety.
- Victims and families express outrage, citing lasting trauma and opposition to leniency for violent offenders.
- Critics accuse Schmidt of political motives, filing petitions just before leaving office to cement his legacy.
- Incoming DA Nathan Vasquez vows to restore law and order, focusing on victims and accountability.
In his final days as Multnomah County District Attorney, Mike Schmidt is making a controversial push to reduce sentences for eight convicted criminals, including a murderer and violent assailants, just before he leaves office. The move has drawn sharp criticism from victims, incoming DA Nathan Vasquez, and law enforcement officials, who argue that Schmidt’s actions are politically motivated and disregard public safety.
Schmidt, a progressive prosecutor who was voted out of office in November after a tenure marked by rising crime rates and lenient policies, is using a 2021 state law to petition judges to reconsider sentences for individuals convicted of crimes such as murder, robbery, and assault. Among those seeking reduced sentences is Frank Swopes Jr., who was convicted in 1993 of murdering a 75-year-old woman during a home invasion and sexually assaulting another elderly victim just days later.
A legacy of leniency
Schmidt’s tenure as DA has been defined by his soft-on-crime approach, which critics say has contributed to Portland’s deteriorating safety and quality of life. His policies, including declining to prosecute low-level offenses and reducing charges for violent crimes, have been blamed for emboldening criminals and leaving victims feeling abandoned.
Now, as Schmidt prepares to hand over the reins to Vasquez, a tough-on-crime prosecutor who campaigned on restoring law and order, he is making a last-ditch effort to reshape the criminal justice system in his image. Vasquez, who took office on January 6, has condemned Schmidt’s actions as a “last-minute giveaway” to violent offenders.
“They're extremely violent individuals who have committed horrible crimes, and they’re being given some kind of a break,” Vasquez told Oregon Live.
Victims speak out
The victims of these crimes and their families are outraged by Schmidt’s petitions. Evan Gardner, who was brutally attacked by Shane Ebberts in 1995, said he was notified of the petition just days before Christmas. Ebberts, who was 16 at the time of the crime, bludgeoned Gardner with a mallet handle while his accomplice cracked the skull of Gardner’s friend, David Clarke, with a baseball bat. Clarke survived but suffered permanent brain damage.
“Attempted my (expletive)!” Gardner told Oregon Live. “As a group, they inflicted irreparable harm that will stay with both of us and our families and our extended families forever. It shattered my feeling of safety.”
Clarke, who still bears the physical and emotional scars of the attack, is “strongly against” reducing Ebberts’ convictions and considers him a “danger to society,” according to court documents.
Similarly, the victims of Frank Swopes Jr.’s crimes—though deceased—left behind a legacy of trauma. Swopes was convicted of murdering Jean Stevenson, 75, during a home invasion and sexually assaulting a 76-year-old woman a week later. Prosecutors described how Swopes “terrorized” the second victim, tying her to a bed frame, stripping her, and “either urinating or ejaculating on her” during the assault.
A pattern of political motives
Critics argue that Schmidt’s actions are not about justice but about cementing his progressive legacy before leaving office. The timing of the petitions—filed just days before the holidays and Schmidt’s departure—has raised suspicions that he is trying to avoid public scrutiny.
“If this was something that was so important and so valuable to do, this could have been done years ago,” Vasquez said. “It could have been done in 2021, 2022.”
The move echoes similar actions by other progressive leaders, such as President Joe Biden’s decision to grant clemency to federal death row inmates before leaving office. While Schmidt claims his petitions are part of an “established and extensive process,” critics say they prioritize criminals over victims and public safety.
A new era for Portland
As Vasquez prepares to take office, many in Portland are hopeful for a return to law and order. Vasquez has pledged to crack down on violent crime and restore accountability in the criminal justice system.
“The other ones we should really focus on are the victims,” Vasquez said. “When we talk about these cases, they have deep trauma that is associated with them, and this isn’t something that people just suddenly get over. This can be very lasting; it can have a lot of ripple effects on their lives.”
For now, Schmidt’s last-minute petitions remain a stark reminder of the consequences of progressive policies that prioritize criminals over victims. As Portland looks to turn the page on a tumultuous chapter, the city’s residents are left to wonder whether justice will ever truly be served.
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