Man sentenced after killing thousands of salmon at an Oregon hatchery

Court documents says on April 21, the 20-year-old trespassed onto the fish hatchery, took a bottle of bleach from a storage shed and poured it into a pond.
Read more: www.kgw.com/ar...
Subscribe: / kgwnews8
Watch the latest KGW newscast: www.kgw.com/watch
Get the KGW app: kgw.com/appred...

[@jamesdjesse]

30 days in jail? he should be in prison for years

[@Dat_Sun]

Lol overkill

[@gerardomonreal8513]

Their just fishes so nah , I’d say 1 year for the financial crime and 2 years ankle bracelet probation

[@Dat_Sun]

@gerardomonreal8513 We're talking about a handful of fries. Their financial claim is misleading. It's what they could have been worth in the future. The reality is it was .99c worth of government subsidy fries. Why does the place look like a slum? Are they not getting enough money from our government?

[@justayoutuber1906]

Like Trump

[@Dat_Sun]

@justayoutuber1906 Biden is making some impressive speeches lately. Did you hear the one from his fourth of july White House party? Told us that traffic congestion used to be bad but isn't anymore among other interesting things.

[@dlighted8861]

Serious jail time is needed.

[@omi_god]

What good would it do?

[@chiquita683]

Yes for whoever sold the weed

[@JebusHypocristosX]

@@chiquita683 Marijuana doesn't make people stupid unlike inbreeding, its not your fault that your parents are each others brother and sister.

[@JebusHypocristosX]

@@omi_god DETERENT for other dimwits like him and you.

[@rfplaw1]

​@@omi_godjustice for harming all those fish.

[@SubyDude1971]

Smoking weed didn’t make him do it, his own stupidity made him do it. Quit blaming weed start blaming the individual for their stupidity. I’ve smoked weed for over 40 years and I’ve never once thought about doing something so stupid.

[@maxmotors9497]

Preach

[@edgarpoe517]

Facts.

[@Not.The.Avg.Smitty]

Maybe it's the bleach

[@ericstandefer9138]

Animal cruelty isn't stupidity, it's depravity and his sentence is so light he will move on to worse things, maybe kids or women.

[@patmcbride9853]

Just the same, they should have banned him from weed while on probation.

[@just-looking430]

He has excuses that he was high, what a crock of BS. Charge him more for the damages he caused. Hold him accountable for his criminal activity

[@liamwilson7549]

It’s trumps world, people can do real harm and get away Scott free

[@omi_god]

Will that bring the fish back?

[@chiquita683]

They claim the fish were murdered but never say why they were being raised. To be eaten?

[@chiquita683]

​@@liamwilson7549Yup have you seen Hunters laptop? There are two legal systems

[@peggyg7442]

​@liamwilson7549 Awww...I thought the Snowflakes had melted in this heat. Guess not. TDS is affecting people's morality. Smh #Trump2024

[@pppantz]

Weed? Get serious, tis person has serious mental issues that have nothing to do with weed. I am 70 and even I am not that uneducated or naive.

[@SuperLiar101]

Its legal in Oregon so i believe he lied about which substance to avoid extra charges. This sounds like a bath salts user

[@maysville3815]

What a joke. His stupidity and total lack of respect caused hundreds of people harm. 30 days.

[@marlan5470]

Fish are living beings who died the most horrendous way.

[@TheREALLibertyOrDeath]

🙄

[@worldsdumbesttrumpturd....3143]

Not to mention the fish😂

[@snowgorilla9789]

And will NEVER PAY the 15 grand

[@Mark-qv4bn]

​@@marlan5470 I agree. I haven't eaten any fish in 50 years. Fishing should be stopped for 20 years.

[@ericstandefer9138]

The animal abuse/ cruelty laws in the US are such an outdated pathetic joke. Animals are living, feeling beings. People who malicious hurt or kill them have serious societal issues. This guy needs 5 years of prison, then probation, counseling, and community service over the next 10 years. 30 days will do nothing. Weed doesn't make you kill animals.

[@dianapharaoh9118]

If that were really true dams would be illegal. If we really care about salmon the dams would come down and the hatcheries (frankenfarming) would have no need to exist. It's ok to make critical species go extinct out of greed I guess?

[@jatpack3]

These fish were to be food for animals and people

[@dorksplorer]

​@@jatpack3doesn't that make this crime even more serious? Sabotaging our food supply, and for 2 countries no less. 🕊️

[@jatpack3]

@dorksplorer it was completely malicious and he should be punished.

[@fishingwithstarfish3714]

10 years in prison should be the punishment

[@CornDogShaun]

Stop blaming marijuana for criminals and idiots.

[@DzNuttz_710]

Fr

[@liamwilson7549]

When were they blaming marijuana? It was merely a factor of the circumstances.

[@patmcbride9853]

Like blaming guns for same?

[@robertdickson9319]

The suspect was the one who said he was high on marijuana.

[@fuffoon]

Idiots sure. People don't smoke to raise their IQ.

[@A3Kr0n]

Marijuana doesn't make people do things like that.

[@snypa-ck7hn]

no? but it does motivate my thoughts to do and say stupid shit i wouldnt while sober... so YES it does. it brings the worst of me, whereas i could keep it hidden.

[@J.D632]

Evil does that type a thing

[@pasques]

😂 it absolutely does

[@chiquita683]

Yes it does . Medical marijuana hit like crack

[@claire-xc3cf]

Fr and if it does then these people aren’t smoking weed they’re smoking crack because it DOES NOT make you do stuff like that🤣

[@frydguy2331]

Someone destroys a business, KILLS 18,000 animals, and only gets 6 months in jail? That was a political attack to remove a small business

[@dianapharaoh9118]

that is a business designed to balance the fact that dams make salmon extinct. They are supported by the dams, huge gross environmentally destructive business which depend on them to say they aren't making everything extinct, look, we have frankenfish!

[@markaddison4642]

In real-time.

[@mho...]

6month would have been something atleast.... but he got 30 friggin days .... thats nothing-.-

[@JamesAllmond]

What a jerk, and not even weed makes one that stupid. Takes a lifetime of lack of experience to get that stupid. The penalty does not come close to the cost of the crime.

[@chiquita683]

You smoked that new weed?

[@jerryd1109]

Marijuana doesnt make you do things like this.

[@talldrummer1]

Don't even TRY to imply that being high on marijuana had ANYTHING to do with this. BS.

[@talldrummer1]

Need to make this guy famous. What's his name?

[@konaken1035]

Maybe a fish n chips purchase, but killing baby anythings is quizzicating. Demands punishment.

[@talldrummer1]

@@konaken1035 not saying he doesn't need punishment, just that smoking pot wasn't the cause.

[@jameswaffle7604]

It wasn’t the weed, he just used it as an excuse for his stupidity.

[@Illsayanything]

Being a pothead is one thing but it takes a psychopath to do things like this.

[@ricdale7813]

As a life long weed smoker of more than 50 years I can honestly say Pot has never given me unhinged and destructive impulses or idea's. A real Pot head will live and let live or even set them free. But killing.....Nope. This kid is psycho to begin with I bet.

[@user-xh8ii2hj6r]

He should of gotten at least 3 years in prison 50k fine and probation after release

[@elund408]

while I agree that his sentence is very light, who should they have let out of prison to put him in for three years. He should have had to do community service every weekend for three years. picking up trash along I5 in the heat, rain and snow would remind him of his stupidity every time he drove down the road

[@andrewgates8158]

Parole you mean.

[@user-xh8ii2hj6r]

@@elund408 he wouldn't show up and then they'd throw him in jail anyway....

[@mho...]

thats seems fair!..... he killed tens of thousands afterall!

[@zootednative]

bros Restarted. Psych ward material

[@mrsamsung8184]

Bros Restarted...lol

[@dwarfdigger135]

....how in the hell would he be a PETA activist? @splinejones4489

[@eddyblackmore4188]

​@dwarfdigger135 because PETA are scum. Search google for "PETA Maya" and read for yourself.

[@chiquita683]

​@@mrsamsung8184he spelled Regarded wrong, regard

[@nightmarestitcher]

62 years of smokin and except for the firework war, not 1 stupid thing like this done.

[@FranktheDachshund]

I would love to hear more about the firework war.

[@june2420111]

These guys never pay up. The type of guys who have all kinds of car accidents in their car driving history and minor crimes in their criminal records and never pay anyone. Even the lawyers know not to sue them.

[@Legaiathan-yu7kj]

Too light of a sentence

[@UmUs]

Where I'm from they'd throw the enviromental crime book at him, no weed makes you do this

[@IamME-h5w]

Should have got a day for every fish. Plus 100% restitution.

[@CL-yp1bs]

Stupid. Literally come up with something better than that you grumpy old boomer. I dont like what he did either but your punishment is unconstitutional because it is CRUEL and UNUSUAL.

[@vinny2555332]

It's a fish relax there

[@IamME-h5w]

Piss off liberal.

[@markaddison4642]

​@vinny2555332 It's sabotaging a food source. On some oops, my bad white privilege shnt.

[@adelechicken6356]

​@@vinny2555332Have you checked the price of fresh or frozen salmon? Then take that price and multiply it by the average size fish, add in lost wages for fishermen who work hard to bring those fish in. Also loss of tourists who come to catch their own, and meals that can't be served at restaurants. Now cut that in half for the ones that don't survive to become full grown. Not to mention the loss of eggs from mature females who either spawn in rivers or are stripped so that more hatchlings can be added to enhance the number of fish that will continue the cycle. I believe the loss would amount to several million dollars over time.😢😢😢

[@drewmurray2583]

what was the point of doing that?!

[@realist7239]

get rid of food

[@tanyasmith2173]

Just to show off what a rotten person they are. Apparently.

[@zoehenfen6154]

@@drewmurray2583 I don't know but I know for a fact he was not high on weed doing this stupid shit

[@darrellcook8253]

Destruction of living things to get a kick out out of it. Murderous intent.

[@UnlimitedEmeralds]

That’s not even a punishment, he should’ve gotten a minimum of 10 years in prison.

[@jedsall00]

No animal cruelty charges?

[@the.magic.catbus9459]

People unfortunately don’t care about fish that much even though they are sentient beings 😢

[@larryphelps6607]

high on marijuana doesn't make you a crazed criminal, it isn't acid.

[@TheREALLibertyOrDeath]

I laugh how everyone is against smoking tobacco but not pot like it’s good for you

[@larryphelps6607]

​@@TheREALLibertyOrDeathAh yes, another proponent of reefer madness. A willing sheep for the propaganda wolf. Tobacco kills, cannabis heals. How much of each have you smoked ? enough i suppose to make an informed decision? Eating corn will sustain you, eating poison hemlock will kill you, and they are both plants. weird huh?

[@LandonStrauss-hc1sc]

​@@TheREALLibertyOrDeaththey don't put addictive chemicals and additives from formaldehyde to cancer-causing chemicals in marijuana.. It's natural.

[@TheREALLibertyOrDeath]

@@LandonStrauss-hc1sc still causes lung damage bud , go inhale campfire smoke for an hour or two a day! 😂

[@TheREALLibertyOrDeath]

@@LandonStrauss-hc1sc I smell our health insurance premiums going up! IDIOTS!

[@scottlund4562]

No justice in that punishment

[@buddypvaz124]

30 days! This should easily merit a sentence of two to five years in the penitentiary and supervised parole if released after two years. The fine should reflect the total loss to the economy. Many times $15k.

[@user-gc5ly3tz8l]

Idc what someone claims to be “high on” when they commit a crime. If anything they should get more time for that fact. This guy should have been ordered to pay restitution equal to the impact he caused and spend years in jail not just days. The justice system is broken in the country and needs to be fixed ASAP!

[@charlesm2437]

A slap on the wrist for Joshua Alexander Heckathorn. Sounds about whyte.

[@TopShottaShorts]

😂

[@user-kq4hf8se5b]

The black guys get $1 bail. Still can't afford it.

[@Bobby-n2q]

Black guy would get a key to the city and an apology from ODFW for being racist you sound like a 🇳🇪

[@charlesm2437]

@@user-kq4hf8se5b The black guy would have been shot by the police for even looking at the fish. Caucasian criminals like you and Josh always get a slap on the wrist.

[@michaelratcliff5422]

He knew exactly what he was doing. He only got a slap on the wrist. I surprised he didn't say his shoes were too tight when he was a kid. 😠

[@franciscorodriguez9738]

His lawyer told him to say that lol , maybe he expected the jury and judge not to have experience with marijuana , therefor they don’t understand that marijuana can’t make you don’t things like that, it was his own actions , not weed.

[@charlesklein1224]

Give him 1 year in prison for every fish that was killed.

[@ianfounds1373]

That's it?!

[@longrange9131]

He needed 20 yrs in prison!

[@DvLnDsGyZ]

Weed didn't make him do this. Stupidity did.

[@Hotharo]

The justice system is quick to punish small offenses with prison time but yet allowing the felony killers and assaults against police and citizens to walk freely with no prison time. How pathetic is that???

[@nunliski]

I hear you, but his sentence is pretty mild.

[@MessyPointedBlob]

@@nunliski The worse part is serial killers always start with animals. This lunatic is going to mass murder somewhere one day.

[@andyroubik5760]

Light sentence

[@jeanniestegner9915]

Blaming marijuana for your ignorance is even more ignorant 🙄 he is a murderer period.

[@B-55]

30 days HAHAHAHA do what you want no consequences

[@ImAskinGOD44givenessHowAboutU]

Salmon are going extinct. Homeboy got demons. I know because I used to be wicked. Poor fish

[@ronhively8826]

Another super soft judge and softer prosecutors....

[@sjb3460]

I have come to the conclusion: THEY HATE THE USA AND ALL OF THE GOOD AND DECENT PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. IN WHAT UNIVERSE DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO GIVE NO BAIL TO REPEAT OFFENDERS WHO HAVE REFUSED TO APPEAR MULTIPLE TIMES??????????? iN WHAT UNIVERSE DOES A JUDGE THINK A 30 DAY SENTENCE AND A SMALL FINE IS JUSTICE FOR CAUSING SO MANY PEOPLE HARM? THEY ARE UNIVERSALLY DEMOCRATS AND THEY HATE THE USA AND ALL OF THE GOOD CITIZENS WHO LIVE HERE.

[@Vinsternator40]

Misconceptions around marijuana are leading criminals to try and use it as an excuse. It’s been successful in some cases and it’s absolutely ridiculous.

[@oldschooldiy3240]

Not enough money, not enough time....

[@Scorch1028]

He was “high on marijuana”? Yeah.

[@Heavilymoderated]

I smoked marijuana in my youth, and I never even thought about doing anything this cruel and stupid.

[@tomantush4867]

The judge let him off way too easy! They need to go after him in civil court, he needs to pay for the damages he's caused.

[@brianbuddy2ACP]

As a pothead myself, I can confirm that weed DOES NOT impair your judgment.

[@mho...]

except for eating/sleeping habits ;)

[@wowomg1980]

We need more severe penalties for animal abuse. It’s time

[@johnskibajr5691]

That "sentence" was a total joke.

[@StevenCombs-dy1pt]

He should get 15 -20 years

[@kkirsch3583]

Piss-poor excuse and even lamer sentence. 1 year minimum prison time and community service for another, then 10 year’s monitored probation.

[@maddmatt9239]

You voted for this crime and no punishment.

[@curtispeterson1676]

STFU! Go finish drinking your kool-aid.

[@dwaneehoward6267]

Nobody is ever held accountable for their actions.

[@PacificForage]

Thats all this jerk got? How many lives did he impact with his criminal behavior? 5 years minimum in the clink.

[@gruntgamer4204]

I've been smoking marijuana almost every day since I was 18. Quit blaming marijuana for your own incompetence and maliciousness.

[@outdoorfreedom9778]

We are living in a country without laws or enforcement! The outcome does not surprise me. His defense of smoking weed the doing the crime is BS.

[@xzero422]

Looks like Multnomah County isn't the only county that takes it easy on criminals.

[@wownewstome6123]

The same lady has explained it is a HUGE economic hit, considering tourists being drawn in by fishing for sport.

[@jamesjoung2793]

That sentence is WAY too light. 30 days and $15k? Should be at least a few years and $100k. Or a lifetime of community service.

[@parttime9070]

Neal Cassidy did two years ( 1958) in San Quentin for two joints ..

[@ss51-857]

John Sinclair 2 years for a joint

[@augustday9483]

This sentence was WAY too light. 30 days??? This was premeditated, no matter what the defendant says. Should have been in jail for years + a much larger fine.

[@tomb427]

DA is left and you shouldn’t expect justice for your paid taxes. You should expect their pay raises and creating unless jobs for their families to join the crime.

[@bwl4984]

Laws regarding this kind of environmental sabotage and poaching are way too lenient and are pretty much slaps on the wrist.

[@beatpirate8]

that was food for bears and the people. we already dont have enough salmon. what the hell. 15000 for all these fish dead for no apparent good reason. he poisoned them! what evil

[@scottyoung1489]

“Murder” is the word: Meth users often blame marijuana for their crimes because they know they will get more sympathy.

[@marilynjackson5752]

BS, high on marijuana? No hate crime. What the f? As the wife of an Alaska fisherman, this needs to be treated with harsh punishment!

[@Lily_of_the_Forest]

Not the drugs. He has an a rotten heart.

[@hansel2001]

What a slap on the wrist. Joke.

[@eman7892]

Should have served 6 months, $100K

[@mikeneumann4660]

Pot had nothing to do with this come on

[@AndyBends]

a slap on the wrist for harming a whole industry shameful

[@Jim-jn8kd]

30 days??? You have got to be kidding me. Another example of Oregon not holding criminals accountable. Guess we should just be thankful Doug Schmidt wasnt involved or all charges would have been dropped.

[@kathyspecht4542]

That is the wimpiest sentence ever!! Absolutely ridiculous!

[@stevezilla68]

So, he gets about 150 seconds of jail for each fish he killed. Seems like a light sentence.

[@hotttt28]

What is wrong with people !

[@notw333]

That guy deserves PRISON for 10 years. These judges are SICKOS.

[@kevinklein9565]

That’s a felony. Obviously, terrible to senselessly kill fish, but amount of money they lost, dude needs more jail time than that!

[@compass7099]

I got 24hr in jail for fishing without a license and a $500.00 fine 25 years ago this guy killed 18000 fish got 30 days and 15,000 in fines..! Thats 30 fish with my penalty i think he should get a day and 500$ for each fish..! What about penalty for the other 17970 fish what a joke our judicial system is..!

[@hjumper8238]

Murder is defined as: “a. The killing of another person without justification or excuse, especially the crime of killing a person with malice aforethought or with recklessness manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.” Salmon at last check are not persons.

[@rogersmith7808]

The sentence is why this type of thing happens. He should be doing 10+ years in prison.

[@andrewgates8158]

Should be banned from eating any seafood for 10 years or get more jail time.

[@Mark-qv4bn]

Why can't people leave the fish alone? My word!

[@SK-rs1hu]

Still just a slap on the wrist. He should've done prison time. And 15k is less than $1 per fish 😡

[@pitdicted]

He deserves 5 years.

[@davidhowell1415]

30 days? That should have been 5 years minimum mandatory

[@xanderburns1332]

Wow no animal cruelty charges

[@richarddevoe5871]

My father worked for 20+ years at a trout hatchery here in NY and it sickens me to see something like this happen. I would love to take some batting practice with this guy..😮

[@Harkart59]

Change the laws!!! Animals are worth more than this crap

[@emeraldforcier14]

Do NOT blame decisions like this on marijuana. I’ve been smoking for years and NEVER felt the need to destroy anything.

[@Mikey8239]

He was high on weed?!? The only thing I ever killed when I did smoke was pizza(s).

[@apwkastmaster2096]

30 days? Shows the justice system needs a overhaul from A-Z WTF

[@jeanlavoie5598]

Another judge protecting criminal instead of the public.

[@CokefishR]

Only 15,000? I'm sure those fish are worth a lot more.

[@Yessssz]

That’s cruel. Killing just for fun is disgusting. Using marijuana as an excuse makes no sense. Not to mention the cost of the hatchery

[@jamesmcdonald5026]

Call this attempted murder and lock him up for life.

[@draculastraphouse7863]

30 days is so pathetic

[@fecklar1905]

This person should be in jail for years and have to pay the millions back

[@timothyrowland1501]

Sounds like domestic terrorism. No criminal trespass?