Prisoner Wins an Appeal Against Oregon Governor for Revoking His Commuted Sentence

An inmate of an Oregon state prison has won an appeal against his incarceration ordered by Oregon Governor, Tina Kotek, who had revoked his commuted prison sentence.

Loran Beck (46) is the fourth prisoner released by four Oregon judges from four different courts who have found that the Governor’s orders to revoke their early release were an unlawful violation of their rights. There is another case pending.

Kotek Has Revoked at least 122 Commutations

The revocations by Kotek date to the pandemic when more than 1,000 people had their sentences commuted by her predecessor, Kate Brown. According to court records, since taking office in 2023 Kotek has revoked at least 122 commutations, sending those people back to jail.

However, attorneys have now successfully argued four separate cases in which the courts found Kotek’s orders unconstitutional.

Loran Beck is the latest victor after Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Michael Greenlick ordered Beck’s immediate release from prison on September 19.

According to a court transcript, Judge Greenlick said he would not delay Beck’s release by spending time drafting an opinion because he believed that Beck had already served an extra eight months in prison.

Beck’s attorney, Malori Maloney said the governor ‘should have corrected her error as soon as it became clear that their imprisonment was unlawful.’ Maloney said it was ‘disturbing’ that courts had to intervene ‘to right these wrongs.’

Governor spokesperson Roxy Mayer issued a brief statement saying Kotek ‘respects the court’s decision and will take this ruling under advisement,’ adding that the governor is committed to a ‘transparent and consistent process.’

Beck’s Prison Journey

Beck’s prison journey began in August 2019 when he was convicted in Clackamas County in a felony aggravated theft case. His sentence was 36 months, plus 24 months of post-prison supervision.

Former Gov. Brown commuted the last 11 months of his prison sentence, converting that portion to supervision, scheduled for completion in January 2024.

Beck was charged with assault in Marion County in June 2023. A judge allowed him to remain free while the case proceeded, on the proviso that he regularly reported to his probation officer. At that stage, Beck was employed as a recreational vehicle maintenance mechanic in Dallas.

While the case was pending, and with a notification from the Clackamas County District Attorney’s office, Kotek ordered Beck back to prison after revoking his commutation in November 2023. At that stage, he was two months away from completing his sentence.

In December, Beck pleaded to the assault charge in Marion County and was found guilty of a misdemeanor requiring 17 days in jail with credit for time served.

For several months Beck spent time in the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem and at the Columbia River Correctional Institution in Portland, all the time seeking answers to why he was incarcerated.

In July, attorneys with the Oregon Justice Resource Center accepted his case, filing a petition with the Oregon Supreme Court alleging that Kotek illegally revoked Beck’s commutation and denied him due process without a hearing.

While the Oregon Supreme Court declined to take the case, attorneys succeeded after filing another petition in the Multnomah County Circuit Court, securing his release.

In his ruling, Judge Greenlick found that Beck should not spend time under supervision after his release from prison.