Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Beach bacteria thresholds may tighten ... Our View: Who politicized the UCC shootings? Not Obama ... View from 100,000 feet ... Beach bacteria thresholds may tighten ... Our View: Who politicized the UCC shootings? Not Obama ... View from 100,000 feet ... Man sentenced to probation in machete case Victim sliced in the hand A man who used a machete to chase people off property he managed was sentenced to probation after slicing one of the victims in the hand and narrowly missing his stomach. Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 4, 2015 at 2:20 PM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 4, 2015 at 2:20 PM » Social News A man who used a machete to chase people off property he managed was sentenced to probation after slicing one of the victims in the hand and narrowly missing his stomach. Jon Robert Coldwate, 46, who currently lives as a self-described recluse in Josephine County, pleaded guilty Friday in Jackson County Circuit Court to unlawful use of a weapon for the July 2014 incident that occurred near railroad tracks by Jackson Wellsprings outside Ashland. "I had a problem with people who moved onto property I managed," Coldwate said in court. "They were using methamphetamine. I was told to make them leave and I did. They got out of control." Court-appointed defense attorney Donald Scales said the incident involved mutual combat. Scales said the main victim has since passed away, but not because of the machete incident. Coldwate said the man died of a drug overdose. In October 2014, the man was found dead near railroad tracks by Hersey Street in Ashland, according to Ashland police. According to an affidavit related to the July 2014 machete incident, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of an assault and found the victim with a "very deep cut on his left palm." The affidavit said the victim also had a cut to his shirt in the stomach area where the machete blade had narrowly missed slicing his stomach. Jackson County Circuit Judge Lorenzo Mejia, who appeared troubled by the probation-only plea agreement sentence negotiated by the defense and prosecution, asked if the victim's death had created a problem in the prosecution of the case. Scales said the Jackson County District Attorney's Office had been willing to move forward on the prosecution without the victim being available. He said the sentencing recommendation was the result of "zealous negotiation." Mejia asked Coldwate if he had spent any time in jail while awaiting a plea agreement or trial, and Coldwate said he had been jailed for 62 days. "OK. That makes a difference," Mejia said, and then imposed the probation sentence as recommended through the plea negotiations. As one of the conditions of Coldwate's probation, Mejia said Coldwate could possess no weapons of any kind. A check of Oregon circuit court records showed no other cases against Coldwate going back at least five years. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 4, 2015 at 2:20 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501