An unrelenting string of burglaries targeting Asian Americans in Oregon inspired state lawmakers to give local judges more explicit powers to deny a suspect’s release from jail, and more changes to state law aimed at combatting the crimes could be coming.
Senate Bill 1516, which took effect on March 31, ensures local magistrate judges can consider community safety and the risk of a defendant leaving the area and failing to appear when denying bail. It came in the wake of multiple waves of burglaries targeting Asian American business owners in the Eugene-Springfield area with technology such as wireless internet jammers.
Over the past year, authorities and community leaders have described the activity as part of a sophisticated operation in the Pacific Northwest by Colombian nationals targeting business owners at their places of residence. Last year, Eugene police arrested seven individuals known as the “Skyline 7” who posted bail ahead of their trials. In June, local officials reported that the crimes were once again on the rise…