A couple of weeks in the past whereas scrolling my inbox I got here throughout a press launch from Multnomah County DA Mike Schmidt. “Right now… Leroy Alfred Parsons plead responsible to a few counts of Unauthorized Use of a Car, Possession of a Managed Substance, and Theft within the First Diploma. A Multnomah County Circuit Courtroom Choose sentenced Parsons to 50 months in jail,” learn the assertion.
The title sounded acquainted to me so I went to Google and typed, “bikeportland leroy parsons” (professional tip: one of the simplest ways to look our 17,000 posts is to kind “bikeportland” plus no matter you’re in search of). Certain sufficient, I acquired a number of hits. This Parsons man might be essentially the most prolific and brazen thief within the historical past of Portland. This most up-to-date bust concerned stolen vehicles, however his car of alternative was bicycles.
Right here’s a fast and really incomplete rundown of his 20-plus 12 months crime spree:
- These most up-to-date costs from the DA embody illegal possession of six vehicles between 2021 and 2022 and an “illegal quantity of meth”.
- In 2018 we reported that Parsons was sentenced to 25 months in jail and that he’d been arrested over 80 instances over 20 years.
- In 2015 he was caught on digital camera stealing bikes after which admitted to stealing bikes whereas being filmed for an area TV information section.
- In November 2015 we reported on an trade Parsons had with a PPB officer the place he confirmed no regret for stealing bikes. “I promise you I’ll get away with much more than I’ll get caught for… So let’s play and see who wins,” he stated in a dialog caught on the officer’s body-cam.
- Later that very same 12 months he was sentenced to 30 months in jail for stealing bicycles (and different crimes), which on the time was the longest-ever bike theft associated sentence.
Given his lengthy historical past of brazen crimes, lack of regret, and repeat victimization of harmless individuals, it’s a testomony to how difficult and embattled Multnomah County’s authorized and psychological well being techniques are that Parsons was ever nonetheless again on the road with none change in his conduct.
Parsons served solely 90 days of his 25 month sentence in 2018. Our solely hope is that as a result of his newest sentence includes vehicles (and never bikes, which regularly don’t get the identical stage of concern from legislation enforcement or the judicial system), he would possibly truly serve an extended sentence. And hopefully it’s sufficient time for Parsons to get the assistance he so desperately wants. All of us deserve higher than to have him return to the streets simply to proceed his crime spree.
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