Oregon Driver Sentenced to Prison After Attacking Man With Hatchet in Road Rage Clash

Joseph Chastain (33), who was given a three-and-a-half-year jail sentence on Friday, was described as a ‘rage-filled manic’ by victim Matt Griffin, who he attacked and injured with a hatchet.

The road rage incident occurred on 12 August 2023 when Griffin (55) hooted once as Chastain cut him off on Southeast César Chávez Boulevard. Griffin was returning home from a benefit concert for victims of the Maui wildfires.

Evidence in the Multnomah Circuit County Court was that after Griffin had hooted once, Chastain gestured a shooting action with his fingers and, for the next half a mile, began following Griffin to his Southeast Portland home.

On his arrival home, with Chastain in pursuit, Griffin testified that he was frightened his assailant could have a real gun and grabbed a camping hatchet with which to defend himself. However, Chastain snatched the weapon from him and proceeded to attack him.

When they heard sirens approaching, Chastain fled the scene, taking the hatchet with him.

After the attack, Griffin had a six-inch gash on his leg and two broken bones.

Chastain was arrested four months later and, according to a probable cause affidavit, police found the hatchet in his garage.

Chastain pleaded guilty to assault and was jailed for 42 months in a plea deal on a charge which held a mandatory seven-and-a-half-year sentence.