Oregon Man Given Five-Year Prison Sentence After Road Rage Incident at Portland’s Rose Festival
The road rage incident that sent spectators diving for cover at last year’s Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade in Portland ended in a five-year sentence in the Multnomah County Circuit Court yesterday (Tuesday).
His Dashcam Filmed the Entire Incident
Sidney Mecham of St. Helens was the architect of his demise when his dashcam filmed the damning evidence of his furious act of road rage sparked by closed street exits to enable the festival parade to take place.
The footage showed that he crashed into curbside chairs, sending terrified children diving for safety, and Mecham ranting amid a cacophony of honks and cussing when he found street exists blocked.
‘The Lloyd Center exit! The Convention Center exit! Every exit!’ screams Mecham in the video before plowing into road barriers and onto the two-mile parade route.
No one was injured in the incident.
Mecham ignored a motorcycle policeman who ordered him to stop, weaving his way through Northeast Weidler and Wasco streets before eventually pulling to the side of the road where he was arrested.
It was a contrite Mechan at yesterday’s court appearance at which he told the judge that he would ‘accept the consequence’ of his actions. He also agreed to attend anger management and cognitive behavioral therapy sessions while imprisoned.
Mecham (42) assured the court that the June 10, 2023, incident was unplanned and that he had acted impulsively. He also said that his niece had died the previous day.
Judge Christopher Marshall handed down a five-year jail sentence after Mecham pleaded guilty to 15 counts of reckless driving, reckless endangerment, and two counts of using a vehicle unlawfully as a weapon.
The judge labeled Mecham’s conduct as ‘horrific and egregious’ but believed that Mecham sincerely intended to change, mentioning several closed-door negotiations with prosecutors before the plea deal.
Mecham has been in custody since last year and failed a previous bail application. However, Judge Marshall granted credit for time served and time off for good behavior and imposed a $5,000 fine.