January 15, 2025
Earlier today, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office formally withdrew the previous administration’s consent to proceed with a petition to modify the murder sentence of Frank F. Swopes.
At the last hearing on December 30, 2024, Judge Melvin Oden-Orr ordered the case to be reset to a later date and directed the District Attorney’s Office to comply with the requirements of the law by providing all affected victims with a copy of any petition for resentencing. Under DA Vasquez, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office has complied with the court’s order and with Oregon law.
In addition to Mr. Swopes’ case, there were four other cases heard the same day in which the court concluded that the victims had not been properly notified. DA Vasquez’s office has requested more time to review the specifics of each of these cases in order to reach a fully-informed decision regarding the best path forward, a process he intends will fully involve and respect the victims of those crimes.
DA Vasquez said about his decision on the Swopes case: “After reviewing the facts of Mr. Swopes’ crime spree which resulted in the death of one woman, the horrific sexual assault of another, and the permanent scars he left in his wake, his early release back to our streets is not in the best interests of the surviving victims or the community.”