Umatilla Co. DA Accused of Sex Crime: "I'm innocent"

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By Chelsea Kopta

Summary

KEPR Action News has new details about the Umatilla County District Attorney who stepped down amid allegations that he committed a sex crime. Dean Gushwa spoke with KEPR Friday and shed some light on why the Oregon Department of Justice is now investigating him.

Story Published: Aug 28, 2010 at 12:21 AM PST

PENDLETON, Oregon -- The man normally associated with fighting crime is now under a dark cloud. Umatilla County District Attorney Dean Gushwa is accused of a sex crime.

His plaque still hung high Friday but the office he ran was noticeably different: officials from the Oregon Department of Justice had begun launching a criminal investigation into Gushwa. But no one would talk.

KEPR spoke with Gushwa on the phone Friday morning. He did not want to go on camera but said he was innocent of any crimes alleged against him. He explained how the investigation is about a woman in her mid-40s, from an incident she claimed happened eight months ago. Gushwa said he did know the woman but he wouldn't talk anymore about it because he says he wants the justice system to work.

The news caught everyone by surprise, particularly long-time friends like Carter Kerns, who said he knew Gushwa through rotary. "I think he's a very fine person, I've known him for several years even before he was a DA, when he was in the DA's office," Kerns said. "I've got everything good to say about him."

Gushwa was appointed Umatilla County's DA in December of 2006 and then successfully ran for the position in 2008. He made prosecuting sex crimes a top priority at his office.

Umatilla County Sheriff John Trumbo told Action News that he didn't know any specifics of the case but said "As a District Attorney, or you as a citizen, everyone has the same right to be innocent until proven guilty."

Not everyone was quick to defend the Gushwa but no one had anything bad to say either. Of the other dozen people KEPR talked to in Pendleton, folks either didn't know about the allegations, or didn't care.

"I'm sure they had their reasons for it," Pendleton resident Monty Beckman said.

"I don't know anything about it," Dan Baker said, a Pendleton neighbor said. "I don't know the guy, I don't know the story, I don't know anything."

With few details to go on, Gushwa's friends can only speculate that it could be a sour grapes situation.

"Honestly, I dont know, but that would be my first guess," Kerns said.

Action News tried to track down any court documents but the Oregon Department of Justice said none have been made public record. And despite several attempts, the Oregon department of jJstice would not answer any questions so KEPR doesn't know how long the investigation will last.