HOOD RIVER — Johnathan Matthews got 150 months in prison and 36 months post-prison supervision for causing the death of Stephen Hayes, according to a statement from District Attorney Matt Ellis on June 9.
Matthews, 32, pled guilty to first-degree manslaughter, third-degree robbery and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle after a judicial settlement conference on June 8. Manslaughter in the first degree earns a minimum of 120 months in prison under Ballot Measure 11.
This resolves a case that began on April 11, 2024, when Matthews stole a Ford F-150 from Jacobs Sanitation in The Dalles, picked up co-defendants William Hardy Jr. and Elizabeth Bowman, and drove to Hood River. There, Hardy tried to steal Hayes’s bike, placing it in the truck bed. Hayes’s partner saw them. When Hayes himself ran out to confront the trio, Matthews tried to drive away, swerving, dragging Hayes, throwing him to the ground and running over him.
The three defendants spent the night at Post Canyon; Hardy and Bowman were arrested on April 12, 2024, while Matthews was caught in The Dalles April 15, 2024, with the bike still in his possession.
Hardy pled guilty on Feb. 9 to second-degree robbery, first-degree theft and second-degree burglary and still awaits sentencing.
“Our hearts go out to Stephen’s family and friends. He was truly a beloved member of the Hood River community and is dearly missed,” read Ellis’s statement.
Agencies involved include Oregon State Police and municipal departmets in Hood River and The Dalles, alongside Hood River and Wasco County’s sheriff’s offices.
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