Case No. 20CR33810 IN CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF JACKSON FOR THE STATE OF OREGON

On June 1st, 2020, Mr. David Westmoreland his wife were victims of a scenario that we are seeing all too often nowadays, across the country, violent protester's accosting victims inside their vehicle, threatening them, and then claiming to be a victim after the fact. David & his wife were driving across town to visit their grand kids. On the way there David noticed some organized protesters on the sidewalk. next he saw in the street ahead, hundreds of organized protesters. David made a quick decision to turn into a parking lot where he thought that he and his wife would be safer. Not wanting to get trapped in their vehicle David got into the bed of their pickup, while his wife stood near the tailgate or side of the truck. As the crowd came closer, some of the organized protesters engaged in non-threatening conversation with David & his wife. As more organized protesters gathered, David & his wife started to hear threats from the newer organized protesters. Shortly after this frozen water bottles were thrown at David, one hitting him the head.

David thought he had been hit with a brick or a rock. Due to the level of pain David was experiencing, David began to fear that great bodily harm was going to be inflicted on him or his wife, thus he pulled his legally carried concealed handgun. While being escorted by the police away from the initial scene David's wife was threatened again with a frozen water bottle so David had to use a legally carried firearm again, without shooting it, to stop the threat. David was initially charged with two misdemeanors, however on June 3, 2020, Medford Police department sent a letter to Medford City Attorney's office requesting that David's charges be dismissed, and dismissal was granted; David's $200 that he had posted for bond, was returned.

About a month later, on a Friday night at 9 p.m. David and his wife were watching the news and a report came on that David had been charged by a grand jury with two felonies in illegal use of a firearm, and misdemeanor of menacing. David called the district attorney's office on the first business day which was Monday, and the district attorney's office told him that only an information letter was being sent out, that the news was inaccurate, and that the media could say whatever they wanted. Several days later David received the information letter in the mail which stated that in fact he had been indicted.

It was later found out through discovery, that members of the organized protest, both locally, and from Portland Oregon, wrote many letters to the Medford District Attorney's office wanting David & his wife charged with crimes.

To make matters worse, a short time after the incident David's wife was terminated from her job due some of the organized protesters had contacted the medical facility where she worked, and threatened to protest in front of the facility, if she was not fired. David & family have received death threats, and have been slandered on social media sites, by some of the very same protesters. Shortly after the incident, David had to sell his truck & get a different one since people had identified the make, model, and license plate of his truck and posted it to social media. Additionally, David also had had to seek professional help mental health help, upon which he was diagnosed with PTSD due the events he endured, and the ongoing threats to David & his family.

Since David did not qualify for public defense, Executive Director Mr. Kevin Starrett, from Oregon Federal Firearms Association helped David get legal representation, which resulted in also getting help from an experienced use of force expert, both of whom were working pro-bono on his case.

Unfortunately, David's original lawyer had to drop David's case due to his workload, however the use of force expert was able to get another quality attorney, who he has successfully tried many self-defense cases with to come on board pro bono, to help in this case.

Other expenses are going to be needed to defend Mr. Westmoreland's acts of self-defense successfully. Please help us fight against violent protester's being able to ruin people's lives, and fight overzealous prosecution of gun owner's defending themselves, & their families.

David is being charged with two separate Class C felonies and if convicted could spend a maximum of five years in prison, be charged fines of $125,000. There are other consequences and criminal sentence guidelines that effect any sentence but there are collateral consequences such as jail time, probation, the loss of the right to vote or possess firearms. There are potential costs and treatment associated with conviction. He is also being charged with an A misdemeanor, and if convicted, he could get up to a year in jail, be charged fines and be ordered treatment, other costs, and have a period of court probation. 

Additionally if convicted it increases the chance of Mr. Westmoreland losing any civil suits that could filed against him.

Any amount helps, thank-you for your time & compassion.

3Tier Services L.L.C.

 #Self-Defense #2A #Personal Protection #Constitution #Freedom #Safety