Federal charges filed against Bettinger

GOLD BEACH – A deputy district attorney moved to drop five felony charges against Drake Alexander Bettinger Friday as he said those four charges – of being a felon in possession of firearms – and one of a felon possessing a restricted weapon were being refiled in Federal District Court in Medford.

Travis Elder made the motion just after Bettinger, 35, of Brookings, was arraigned on an indictment handed up by a grand jury Thursday of supplying contraband. That was the 18th charge the state had filed against Bettinger, who is scheduled to stand trial on many of them in a trial scheduled for Nov. 12 and 13 in Curry County Circuit Court.

The newest charge concerns a shank, a prison term for a homemade knife, Bettinger was found to possess in jail. In this case, the shank had been carved out of a toothbrush.

That indictment had also included the charges dropped Friday to be refiled in federal court - possession of two 12-gauge shotguns, a .22 rifle and a 410 shotgun and possession of a switchblade knife.

Judge Jesse Margolis said that because of the new charges, he would allow negotiations up to Nov. 10.

The trial scheduled to begin Nov. 12 includes charges stemming from a high speed chase from Harbor to Crescent City in early June. Those charges include attempting to elude police, two counts of recklessly endangering another, first-degree theft and reckless driving. He is also to be tried on later charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine and tampering with physical evidence.

Bettinger has twice attempted suicide in the jail, the most recent on Sept. 21 when he hanged himself with a T-shirt from a ceiling fixture in the telephone access area adjacent to his cell.

“Corrections deputies were attempting to locate the source of a banging noise in the area of the cell block where Bettinger’s cell is located and found him hanging,” Capt. Bob Rector said.

“Deputies called for an ambulance and cut Bettinger down and began first aid measures,” Rector said. “When he was lowered to the floor, corrections staff were able to feel a faint pulse and Bettinger was attempting to breathe on his own, although he did not appear conscious.”

Bettinger was taken by ambulance to Curry General Hospital, then later transported to Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford.

The jail cell being used to house Bettinger, as well as the telephone access area where he was found, is isolated from the rest of the jail. 

“Bettinger was purposely isolated from other inmates based on staff assessment that he was a threat to others, after repeated incidents wherein Bettinger threatened staff members or other inmates,” Rector said.

On Aug. 9, Bettinger was found in a jail visitation room bleeding from cuts on his neck in the previous suicide attempt.

“Bettinger was found conscious, alone, inside a secure visitation room, where he had been placed to talk with a visitor,” Rector said at that time. “Bettinger was provided immediate first aid to slow the bleeding, and an ambulance was summoned.”

He was taken to Curry General Hospital, where he was treated and released back to jail custody and placed on suicide watch.

On Sept. 4, Bettinger was found in contempt of court after he was arraigned in Curry County Circuit Court on newer charges.

As he was being arraigned on the new charges, Judge Margolis warned Bettinger that he was in danger of being held in contempt of court for using profanities while speaking loudly to his attorney, Megan Jacquot. A few minutes later, Margolis again heard Bettinger using a profanity.

“You are being held in contempt,” Margolis said, as he sentenced Bettinger to 30 days in jail.