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Baker City Man Convicted of Felony Coercion and Assault
08-09-2018
 

Baker City Man Convicted of Felony Coercion and Assault

 

On August 9, 2018 Baker County Circuit Court, Judge Greg Baxter found James Robert Blitch (dob 07-1970) of 2200 block of 5thSt., Baker City, Oregon guilty of Coercion, a Class C Felony and Assault in the Fourth Degree also a Class C Felony. Baxter acquitted Blitch on one other count of Felony Assault. The verdict followed a day and a half trial in Baker County Circuit Court. Blitch was convicted of Coercion for keeping Tatianna Mckenzie in an apartment on Broadway street (Torrance apartments) by threatening her with physical injury if she left the apartment.

 

Judge Baxter also found Blitch guilty of assaulting Jason Hoecker. During the trial, Mckenzie alleged that Blitch would not let her leave the apartment and physically kept her from leaving by tackling her and pushing her when she tried to leave. Jason Hoecker testified that he arrived at the scene after receiving a call from McKenzie for assistance and Blitch was keeping Mckenzie in the apartment. Hoecker was punched by Blitch when he attempted to assist Mckenzie in leaving the apartment.

 

The Judge found insufficient evidence for another count of Assault Fourth Degree involving Blitch causing injury to Ms. Mckenzie. Blitch raised the defenses of self- defense and defense of property at trial. He testified in the trial claiming the Ms. Mckenzie was stealing money from him and that is why he told her she could not leave the apartment. He also claimed he was acting in self- defense when he struck Hoecker. The Judge found that the state had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that those defenses did not apply.

 

Sentencing in the case was set for August 21, 2018. “Baker City Police Sergeant Mike Regan and Officer Rand Weaver did a good job on investigating the case. We were pleased that Mr. Blitch will be held accountable for this behavior as it involved domestic violence.”

 
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