By C1 Staff
PORTLAND, Ore. — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon pulled strings to get confessed killer David “Joey” Pedersen a homemade meal of grilled salmon, greens, a cheese plate and dessert, all brought in by Pedersen’s defense team.
The meal, according to The Oregonian, was one of two concessions Pedersen had made before he would confess to the carjacking and murder of two people in October 2011.
Pedersen was already sentenced to life for the murder of his father and stepmother in a Washington state courtroom.
The other concession was the shortening sentences for two of Pedersen’s friends, who had provided him with a gun used in Pedersen’s killing spree.
Why was the government so eager to bring an end to Pedersen’s case?
Prosecutors had been warned by a federal judge that he was in the process of determining if they had acted in “bad faith.” Jail managers were also fined $1,000 for opening Pedersen’s legal correspondence, and warned of further repercussions if it happened again.
Other issues that plagued the case can be traced back to Oregon State Police Detective Dave Steele, who was accused of not logging evidence for months, misplacing evidence, and even shredding it. All of this could have lead to Pedersen’s charges being dropped.
Along with that, the plea also likely saved hundreds of thousands in prosecutors’ time, defense fees, court staff time, transports to and from the jail, along with any potential appeals Pedersen might have filed.
Most involved with the meal declined to comment, but Multnomah County Sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Steve Alexander said they handle such requests on a “case by case basis.” He could not point to another similar instance where a single inmate had been allowed such special treatment.
A few details have leaked out through emails: access to a microwave and crock pot was allowed, but utensils were required to be paper and plastic. An attorney asked to bring in an iPod and speakers to play music. Another email enquires if there is a way to keep food hot in the conference room.
Other county jails stated that they would never allow attorneys, friends or relatives to bring outside food for inmates. One said they search such visitors for food to make sure it’s not being given to the inmates.
Allegedly, Pedersen said he got the idea from Tremayne Durham when a judge allowed him to have fried chicken, pizza and Hagen-Dazs ice cream in the judge’s jury room at the Multnomah County Courthouse.
In exchange for the meal, Durham pleaded guilty to killing a man over a business meal gone sour.
On Monday, Pedersen will be sentenced in federal court for his third and fourth killings.