Scott awaits stay in federal hospital; Crowe murder case heading to trial

By PHIL WRIGHT Reprinted from East Oregonian

PORTLAND — Murder defendant Kawlija Scott of Pendleton remains in custody while awaiting transportation to a federal medical facility due to his mental status.

Scott, 26, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, faces charges of seconddegree murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in the slaying of Gabriel Freeman, 27, in May 2022 at his residence on Parr Lane on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Freeman died at CHI St. Anthony Hospital, Pendleton. Scott has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The federal court in Portland on Nov. 8 held a competency hearing for Scott and found he was “suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him and to assist properly in his own defense of this criminal matter,” according to court documents.

U.S. district Judge Michael Mosman subsequently ordered Scott’s commitment to a suitable facility within four months. The government on Dec. 14 filed a status report alerting the court that Scott remained in custody and was not in a medical facility. According to court documents, the federal Bureau of Prisons reported to the U.S. attorney’s office of Oregon on Feb. 13 reported it anticipated transporting Scott to a facility in March before the four-month mark.

And murder defendant Skyler Crowe, 23 of Pendleton, now is heading for federal trial in March.

Crowe, 23, faces a charge of first-degree murder in the stabbing death Sept. 29, 2021, of Richard Higheagle, 38. Crowe attacked Higheagle at his home on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and he later died at a hospital.

Crowe’s defense attorney, Conor Huseby, on Nov. 14 filed a declaration in support of his motion to postpone trial. While the case is nominally about the homicide on that night in 2021, according to Huseby, the case also is about years of events that led to the death of the victim and Crowe’s arrest.

“The defense has spent the last year working hard to investigate the case,” Huseby informed the court. “Since the last trial setting, defense counsel disclosed the results of its investigation and work with experts to the government in order to resolve the case. The government and defense are working diligently and in good faith to resolve the case, but resolution requires the input of multiple stakeholders and will not occur before the current trial date.”

Huseby at the time asked for 120 days to resolve the case or, if resolution fails, for the parties to be ready for trial. The government did not oppose the request, and Judge Michael Simon set a new five-day jury trial for March 28.

In another action, the U.S. Attorney Natalie Wight of the District of Oregon reassigned the prosecution from Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Cadotte to Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela Paaso.

Court records also state Crowe is out of custody and living in Pendleton and in compliance with the conditions of her pretrial release.

Tribal members cross toll free

HOOD RIVER — Enrolled members of Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla are now exempt from paying any toll fees associated with the bridge crossing on the Bridge of the Gods or Port of Hood River over the Columbia River.

The Port of Cascade Locks Commission formally adopted the exemption at its meeting on January 19, 2023, and the Port of Hood River officially adopted it on February 7, 2023.

“Since time immemorial, the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla people have lived, fished, hunted, and gathered along the Columbia River — freely trading goods among other tribes and non-tribal people,” said Fish and Wildlife Commission Chair and Board of Trustees Member at Large Corinne Sams.

CTUIR tribal members must present their CTUIR enrollment card to cross the bridge without charge.

The policy also extends to CTUIR tribal government employees, who must show their CTUIR government employee badge to cross without charge.

ALMANAC: To place an advertisement, public notice, announcement, or obituary in the CUJ email: cuj@ctuir.org

Obituary

Renee Watchman

Renee Watchman, 45 died on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Dressing Ceremony will be held on Monday, February 27, 2023 at Burns Mortuary at 2:00 p.m. with Washat Service to follow at the Agency Longhouse at 7:00 p.m. Final Seven will be Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 7:00 a.m. with burial to follow at Tutuilla Cemetery. Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge of arrangements. Please visit our online guestbook at www. burnsmortuary.com

Alethea J. Haskie

Alethea J. Haskie, 53 died on Friday, February 17, 2023 at a Salem hospital. Alethea was born on December 16, 1969 in Salem, Oregon. Dressing Ceremony will be held on Monday, February 20, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Burns Mortuary. Non-Denominational Speakers at 6:00 p.m. with Washat Service to follow at 7:00 p.m. at the Agency

Blue

March 11, 2023 1pm Grand Entry in McCrae Activity Center (MAC)

MC: Fred Hill

Everyone welcome | Door prizes

First 20 singers will receive a $20 Arrowhead gift card

Tribal Dance contests: Tiny Tots

• Junior Boys • Junior Girls • 13 and over Men • 13 and over Women

Traditional category

Fancy/Grass and Fancy/Jingle categories combined

For more info. email BMCC Native Club at nativeclub@bluecc.edu or contact Annie Smith, Native American Liaison at 541-278-5935

Longhouse. Final Seven at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 with Burial to follow at the Agency Cemetery. Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge of arrangements. Please visit our online guestbook and share a memory at www. burnsmortuary.com

Thank You

COMMUNITY VALENTINES CELEBRATION

Thank You Community for all the people who supported our celebration and came to the longhouse on Valentine’s Day, shared a meal and laughter, and fun.

We crown a Queen and King, Queen Marlene Taylor and King Randal Minthorn.

We want to thank everyone who brought food, and cakes. Watching our youth grow, and be involved in community function does our hearts good. We have had many community members, thank our Cay-Uma-Wa Youth group for sponsoring this event, we need to have more get together, seeing each other, and having fun, makes this a much better community to live in knowing we are supported by our people. We love our people, Thank You!

Committee Members

Linda Jones

Marjorie Waheneka

Sally Kosey

Babette Cowapoo

Rachel Matamoros

Cay-Uma-WA Youth group

Submit

ALMANAC: To place an advertisement, public notice, announcement, or obituary in the CUJ email: cuj@ctuir.org

Jobs

Join the Cayuse Holdings team! We have dozens of jobs open each month. Work on the Reservation, remotely from your home, across the US or overseas. Equal Opportunity Employer.

See the complete list of job openings at www. cayuseholdings.com. To sign up for our Talent Network (be the first to learn about career opps that fit your interests and skill sets and get access to our weekly hot jobs list) go to https://www.cayusetalentsolutions.com/talent-network

Current Cayuse Holdings job opportunities include Accounts Payable clerk (Pendleton office based but remote work), Business Operations Specialist, Customer Service Rep., Financial Analyst, Healthcare Program Manager, Ophthalmology Technician (Hawaii), Project Management Office Analyst, PMO Specialist, Procurement Manager, UX Designer, and Desktop IT Technician on or near Indian Reservations across the US.

WE’RE HIRING!

For more information and to apply visit: https://ctuir.org/ career-opportunities