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Morrow appeals child abuse conviction

Herald and News - 9/15/2017

A Klamath Falls man sentenced last month to 50 years in prison for the repeated sexual abuse of a young girl has asked the Oregon Appeals Court to overturn his conviction.

Joshua Jay Morrow, 37, filed a notice of appeal Aug. 31 after being sentenced Aug. 17 to 360 months in prison for first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and incest.

Morrow had admitted to the repeated abuse of a female relative during the course of four years, beginning when the victim was 8 years old.

As of Thursday, an opening brief detailing Morrow’s basis for the appeal had yet to be filed. He must prove the process used to convict him was flawed rather than re-try the evidence of the case.

During sentencing, Morrow argued he would be traumatized by prison and should receive mental health treatment instead of incarceration. Klamath County Circuit Court Judge Andrea Janney said the nature of the crimes and the harm to the victim justified a five-decade sentence.

Multiple appeals pending

Morrow’s appeal is one of multiple pending filed by serious offenders from Klamath County including:

n Thomas James Hevener, 30. Sentenced Dec. 18, 2015, to 86 months in prison for first-degree criminal mistreatment and second-degree child neglect. Appealed Dec. 30, 2015. Questions how the judge calculated his sentence.

n William Jack Parkerson, 33. Sentenced Nov. 2, 2016, to 30 years in prison for attempted murder. Appealed Nov. 17, 2016. No brief filed.

n Adam John Davis, 38. Sentenced Nov. 3, 2016, to 130 months in prison for first-degree rape. Appealed Oct. 11, 2016. Questions the way prosecutors portrayed him as unreliable and dishonest during trial.

n Sergio Mario Palma-Castro, 44. Sentenced Feb. 23 to five years in prison for first-degree robbery, attempted first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm. Appealed March 14. No brief filed.

n Racina Jean Allen, 30. Sentenced March 14 to 13 years in prison for first-degree assault, second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon. Appealed April 11. No brief filed.

n Jose Buenaventura Vinals, 54. Sentenced March 14 to 17 years in prison for racketeering and meth possession. Appealed April 17. No brief filed.

n Michael Germaine Souter, 37. Sentenced Aug. 23 to 33 years in prison for attempted murder, first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and first-degree sexual abuse. Appealed Sept. 8. No brief filed.

Morrow