La Grande man arraigned in homicide case
Justin E. Moore indicted Thursday
By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Saturday, July 12, 2008 10:12 PM PDT
Vale — A La Grande man labeled as a “person of interest” in the death of a Vale resident after an incident outside a Jordan Valley bar June 28 was arraigned Friday afternoon in Malheur County Circuit Court.
Justin E. Moore, 34, was charged with one count of criminally negligent homicide, a Class C felony, in the death of John Levanger, 40.
Malheur County District Attorney Dan Norris said the death was a result of Moore punching Levanger outside the Jordan Valley Cafe and Bar in the early morning hours of June 28.
“There was an assault, followed by Mr. Lavenger’s head hitting the concrete,” Norris said.
Levanger was transported to Saint Alphonsus in Boise, where he died July 2.
The grand jury indicted Moore Thursday, meaning members believed there was enough evidence against Moore to proceed with a trial. The grand jury also set security at $500,000, with bail set at $50,000.
Deputy District Attorney Jason Munn said he believed Moore should not be released because of past criminal acts, including rape in the third degree, a class C felony, which Oregon law defines as sex with a person under the age of 16, harassment and menacing.
He also said he believed Moore had numerous probation violations, though defense attorney Manuel Perez stated he believed there was only one probation violation.
This violation, Perez said, was for a failure to register, stemming from a sex-related crime, though he offered no further information.
Judge J. Burdette Pratt then made his decision regarding Moore’s bail.
“Given his history and the nature of this charge, I’ll leave the security as set yesterday,” Pratt said Friday.
Pratt then set Moore’s pre-trial hearing for 11 a.m. July 25, with his plea slated to be entered at 9 a.m. Aug. 4.
