Legal Matters: Dog owner indicted in Joe Keeton death and more

By Stephen Floyd

A Bend woman has been indicted for manslaughter after her three dogs mauled a former Silverton man to death in July. Jessica Rae Charity, 38, was indicted Sept. 15 in Deschutes County Circuit Court for second-degree manslaughter and criminally-negligent homicide for the July 19 death of Joe Keeton, 56.

The indictment accused Charity of “unlawfully and recklessly” causing Keeton’s death, but did not describe why she was allegedly responsible. A spokesperson for the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office told Our Town they were not able to discuss the facts underlying the charges at this time.

A $100,000 warrant was issued for Charity’s arrest and as of press time she remained at large. If convicted, Charity faces at least 75 months in prison.

The dog attack occurred at around 1 a.m. July 19 at a homeless encampment at Juniper Ridge, northeast of Bend, where both Keeton and Charity were living. First responders found Keeton severely injured and, despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at St. Charles Bend Hospital.

Charity cooperated with the initial investigation and the dogs were taken into custody. Whether or not they are put down will depend on a civil process separate from Charity’s criminal case, said the DA’s office.She was not taken into custody at the time. Authorities told The Bend Bulletin she may be charged with maintaining a dangerous dog, a class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Investigation revealed more serious alleged offenses and prosecutors pursued an indictment for manslaughter.

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Wanted California man arrested in Silverton

Silverton police have arrested a wanted California man after he allegedly attempted to attack another man with a gun last month.

Gary Rayford Chipman, 44, of Rohnert Park, California, was arrested Sept. 9 after allegedly attempting to harm another man with a firearm. Chipman is not allowed to possess a weapon due to a 2019 felony conviction out of Butte County, California.

He was indicted Sept. 18 in Marion County Circuit Court for unlawful use of a weapon and felon in possession of a firearm and held in lieu of $50,000 bail. He also has an active $30,000 warrant for pending matters in Rohnert Park. As of press time, Chipman remained in the Marion County Jail.

90 days for felony DUII

A Mount Angel man was sentenced to 90 days in jail and had his driver’s license suspended for life after pleading guilty to a felony charge of intoxicated driving.

Austin James Berning, 28, pleaded guilty in Marion County Circuit Court Aug. 31 to DUII and recklessly endangering another person for a traffic incident Dec. 19, 2022.

Berning had two prior convictions for DUII in 2015 and 2016, so under Oregon law his new charge was a felony rather than a misdemeanor.

In addition to his lifetime license suspension and three months in the Marion County Jail, Berning received three years of probation and was fined $2,355. He must also undergo a substance abuse evaluation and attend a victim impact panel.

Dietrich accepts plea deal

A former Silverton veterinarian has been sentenced to five years of probation after being convicted in a plea deal for neglecting a herd of sheep.

Brian James Dietrich, 43, pleaded no contest Sept. 20 in Linn County Circuit Court to three misdemeanor counts of second-degree animal neglect. Prosecutors agreed to drop 27 felony counts of second-degree animal neglect, each punishable by up to five years in prison.

Dietrich owned Abiqua Animal Clinic from 2009 to 2016 and currently owns Scio Animal Clinic. While on probation, he may continue working as a veterinarian but otherwise may not have pets or livestock in his care except for six animals already in his possession. He must also surrender 25 live sheep seized by Linn County, and reimburse the county $3,134 for the animals’ care.

Also as a condition of probation, Dietrich was ordered to serve two days in the Linn County Jail with credit for time served and 10 days on a county work crew.