Former Oregon Sheriff has been accused of a wide variety of misconduct and harassment charges while on duty, continuously using excessive force.
County Sheriff Frank Skrah
Former Klamath County Sheriff Frank Skrah has been accused of nine misdemeanor charges, with many revolving around using excessive force.
Various Accusations
Many of the accusations came from former suspects that fell victim to Skrah’s excessive use of force. The allegations span from 2013 to 2017.
James Johnson
The first accusation comes from James Johnson who came into contact with Skrah back in February 2013. Johnson claims that Skrah held a flashlight against his throat.
Kenneth Bragg
Kenneth Bragg came forward with his story that took place in February 2015. Bragg said Skrah choked him during their interaction.
Lack of Communication
Skrah was also accused of neglecting to inform homeowners that their mailboxes were destroyed by an on duty police officer.
Jury Verdict
Jury deliberations found Skrah guilty of five out of seven misdemeanor counts. These include attempted fourth-degree assault, first-degree misconduct, strangulation and harassment.
Defense Attempts
Throughout the case, the defense attorneys attempted to discredit the victim’s testimonies by questioning their character and criminal histories.
Prosecutors
Prosecutors agreed that the victim’s did have extensive criminal histories, however, that did not permit the sheriff to use excessive force against them.
Possible Sentence
Skrah could face up to a year in prison and be required to pay a fine of $6,250 on his highest misdemeanor count.
No Justice?
Looking back at previous convictions of law enforcement officials in Klamath County provides a bleak picture of justice. Skrah most likely will put on probation and required to yield his position as a law enforcer.