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By Vickie Aldous January 29. 2016 12:29PM DA won't offer felony discharge to justice director Shane Hagey Attorney Carl Caplan, left, Jackson County Community Justice Director Shane Hagey and District Attorney Beth Heckert leave circuit court Friday after Hagey is arraigned on a charge of possession of methamphetamine. Mail Tribune / Jamie Lusch Jackson County District Attorney Beth Heckert said she won't offer a plea agreement to Jackson County Community Justice Director Shane Levi Hagey that would result in a felony for methamphetamine possession being removed from his record if he pleads guilty. Hagey, 48, was arrested Dec. 30 after allegedly buying methamphetamine from an informant at a Purple Parrot outlet in Medford during an investigation by Medford police. Hagey pleaded not guilty to a charge of meth possession during an arraignment hearing today in Jackson County Circuit Court. He has a pre-trial conference hearing scheduled for Feb. 29. Hagey and his defense attorney, Carl Caplan, declined to comment following the arraignment. People accused of felony possession of methamphetamine or heroin are often offered a chance to complete drug treatment, community service and probation. Conditions of probation often require that defendants abstain from drug use and submit to drug testing. If they successfully complete the terms, they can secure a conditional discharge and keep a felony conviction off their records. Heckert said Friday she will make a plea offer to Hagey, but the offer will not include an opportunity for conditional discharge. "Because of his position in the community, I don't think it's appropriate," Heckert said. As director of Community Justice, Hagey oversees adult probation and parole, juvenile probation, the juvenile detention facility and the Community Justice Transition Center. Hagey was placed on paid administrative leave Dec. 31. Medford police began investigating Hagey after an informant claimed Hagey had been buying small amounts of meth from the informant at various Medford locations. The informant assisted police in exchange for consideration on pending felony charges, according to a search warrant affidavit. Hagey's brother, 45-year-old Jayson Robert Hagey, was arrested this month on a meth possession charge and two unrelated charges for failing to appear in court. The two brothers share the same Dunthorpe Drive address in Medford. Jayson Hagey has a history of violating probation, failing to appear in court and having warrants issued for his arrest, court records show. Jackson County Circuit Judge Timothy Barnack heard Shane Hagey's not-guilty plea today in court during a routine arraignment hearing, but said he will have nothing further to do with Shane Hagey's methamphetamine possession case. Barnack said he has asked to be taken off the case. "In my opinion, it's a conflict," Barnack said. Barnack said all Jackson County Circuit Court judges will have to decide for themselves whether presiding over Shane Hagey's case would create a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest, since Hagey is a county employee working in community justice. Heckert said if no Jackson County judges will take the case, an out-of-county current or retired judge could be brought here to handle it. Meanwhile, Barnack barred a Mail Tribune photographer from taking photos during today's morning court session when Shane Hagey appeared along with dozens of other defendants in assorted unrelated cases. Barnack said he is distracted by the clicking noises made by cameras. He said he is not bothered by video cameras because they are quiet. He said he did not exclude the newspaper photographer in order to shield Shane Hagey from publicity. "It has flat-out zero to do with Shane Hagey," Barnack said. "It's distracting to the courtroom process and to me. As a judge, I have an obligation to keep decorum in the courtroom." The Mail Tribune had submitted a court permission form to shoot photographs during Shane Hagey's arraignment. The media request was approved by Jackson County Circuit Judge Lorenzo Mejia. The KOBI television station also submitted a media request to cover Shane Hagey's case that was approved by Jackson County Circuit Judge David Hoppe, but the station didn't send a camera crew to Friday's arraignment, according to court records and a station employee. Photography and filming in court by the media is typically barred during sex abuse cases and cases involving children, but is usually approved otherwise. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160129/NEWS/160129538 © 2016 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->