3 County Jail Staff Members are Charged with Criminal Negligent Homicide in the Death of James Eugene Wippel in Madras, Oregon
At Jefferson County Jail in Madras, Oregon, 59-year-old prisoner James Eugene Wippel died on April 26, 2017, of what was referred to at the time as a “serious medical issue”. Last week, on April 5, 2018, a corporal and two deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department were indicted on charges of criminal negligent homicide in connection with Wippel’s death.
The members of the jail staff charged with a felony are ages 33, 42, and 53. Each faces up to five years in prison on a single felony county.
Very little has been revealed about what happened after Wippel was arrested in 2017. Here are some of the alleged events, according to Sheriff Jim Adkins:
- Wippel was arrested on drug-related charges by Warm Springs police officers on April 24.
- Wippel was booked into the Jefferson County Jail without incident.
- Two days after his arrest, Wippel contacted the nursing staff and said he wasn’t feeling well.
- Nothing is known regarding steps taken to address Wippel’s health issues other than the fact that an ambulance was eventually called.
- Wippel died while still at the jail.
The investigation into Wippel’s death was handled by the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office. The outside agency was requested in order to avoid a conflict of interest.
Early on Thursday, April 5, the indictment against the three jail staff members was filed in the Jefferson County Circuit Court. On April 19 at 2 p.m., the three employees will be arraigned.
There have been widespread protests in recent years against police officers, mostly alleging racial discrimination against African Americans. Society has also been calling out police departments for protecting their own rather than ensuring that justice is equally served for officers who break the law. It is widely known that law enforcement officers rarely face criminal charges. If they are charged, they are rarely found guilty.
The opposite was true not so long ago in Jefferson County, Oregon, back in November 2017. A police officer was sentenced to five days in jail and two years of probation for official misconduct and harassment. He was accused of grabbing the buttocks of a female inmate, and he was booked into jail after being found guilty.
As with every post on this website, we are only providing information in this post and do not make any allegation or assertion that anyone acted inappropriately or engaged in misconduct.
–Guest Contributor
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