Medford, Oregon- James Cecil, 34, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for second-degree assault constituting domestic violence, as announced by the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office. The sentence, imposed by Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Laura Cromwell, falls under Oregon’s Measure 11 mandatory minimum sentencing law, requiring the full term to be served without eligibility for early release.
The conviction stems from an incident on May 2, 2024, when Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic violence report at a residence near Jacksonville. The victim reported that Cecil had thrown her to the ground, pinned her, and slammed her head into the floor. Deputies observed injuries including facial bleeding, a forehead laceration, arm bruising, and a cast on her left arm.
The victim also recounted a prior incident on April 9, 2024, during which Cecil allegedly twisted her hand, breaking bones, and subsequently placed a gun to her head and wrapped a vacuum cord around her neck, threatening her life.
At the sentencing hearing, the prosecution argued for the Measure 11 sentence due to the severity of the assaults and the life-threatening nature of the strangulation. The defense requested a non-Measure 11 sentence, which would have allowed for potential sentence reductions. Judge Cromwell sided with the prosecution, mandating the full 70-month term to be served in the Oregon Department of Corrections, followed by three years of post-prison supervision.
Measure 11, enacted by Oregon voters in 1994, establishes mandatory minimum sentences for certain crimes, including second-degree assault, which carries a minimum of 70 months. Under this statute, parole and sentence reductions for good behavior are not permitted.
Source: JCDA
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