Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Morning Jolt: What color dress do you see? Morning Jolt: Reports say ‘Jihadi John’ has been ID’d Morning Jolt: Mysterious drones again spotted flying over Paris Morning Jolt: Single mom of 4 is one of Powerball winners Today in the News: Poll shows most Americans favor mandatory vaccinations Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Politics and Elections Education Environment State News Nation - World 8 shot to death, including gunman, in Missouri rampage Native American tribes converge to discuss pot legalization House clears way for short-term Homeland Security bill Despite spat with US, Israeli leader fighting Iran nuke deal Study: As poverty rates rise in suburbs, schools shift to serve needy students Obituaries Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable The internet almost breaks over the color of a dress: white & gold, or blue & black? You've gotta see a game of cat and moose: 'Canadian Sniper' How long can you go without your phone? Well, what if it's for a good cause? Waves of slush - or 'slurpee' waves - shot off Nantucket look alien When going gets tough, Fox host Bill O'Reilly goes for jugular Sports Latest Stories Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose suffers another knee injury Joey Logano gives Roger Penske another Daytona 500 win Kyle Busch injured in Xfinity Series race at Daytona North Carolina coaching great Dean Smith dies at 83 Sons represent late Junior Seau at Hall of Fame announcement Varsity 541 College Sports Pro Sports Community Sports Business Latest Stories Real Estate News People In Business Transportation Agriculture Opinion Latest Editorials Letters to the Editor Columns Guest Opinions Lifestyle Latest stories College is not for everyone Worldwide ticket sales shake up Hollywood box office figures Directors announce topic, give sneak peek of new 'Frozen' short to air before Disney's 'Cinderella' Food Home and Garden Health Hiking Biking Faith College is not for everyone Worldwide ticket sales shake up Hollywood box office figures Directors announce topic, give sneak peek of new 'Frozen' short to air before Disney's 'Cinderella' Milestones and Achievements Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Theater Music Community Events Dining Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Leonard Nimoy, best known for playing Spock, dies at 83 ... Emergency services ... Mail Tribune 100: Feb. 27, 1915 ... Leonard Nimoy, best known for playing Spock, dies at 83 ... Emergency services ... Mail Tribune 100: Feb. 27, 1915 ... COURTS Attempted murder suspect pleads to lesser charge By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 24, 2015 @ 5:27 pm Updated Feb 24, 2015 at 5:39 PM By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 24, 2015 @ 5:27 pm Updated Feb 24, 2015 at 5:39 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> A Rogue River man whose trial for attempted murder was scheduled to begin Tuesday instead pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree assault. Jackson County sheriff's deputies arrested Jack Vernon Porter on March 7, 2013, after he attacked his 74-year-old neighbor, Ronald Franchi, with a crowbar in the 900 block of Savage Creek Road. According to an affidavit filed by a sheriff's detective, Porter's father originally told dispatchers that Franchi had been stabbed multiple times. Porter, 37, refused to talk to deputies and was arrested after they discovered the bloody crowbar at the scene. Investigators believe Porter was under the influence of intoxicants at the time. Franchi had lost a significant amount of blood by the time deputies arrived. He was taken to Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford with life-threatening injuries. According to the affidavit, he had to undergo surgery to repair wounds to his head, neck and torso. He later recovered. The Jackson County District Attorney's Office originally charged Porter with first-degree assault and attempted murder, Measure 11 felonies carrying minimum sentences of 90 months in prison each. Porter's three-day trial had been scheduled to begin Tuesday, and his attorney filed a notice Feb. 20 that Porter intended to assert that he had acted in self-defense. But Porter changed his plea to guilty after Deputy District Attorney Terry Smith-Norton lowered the charge from attempted murder to second-degree assault. Judge Lorenzo Mejia sentenced Porter to 70 months in prison and three years' post-prison supervision. The first-degree assault charge was dismissed as part of the plea agreement. Court records show Porter has prior felony convictions for first-degree theft in Jackson County and possession of methamphetamine in Josephine County. Reach reporter Thomas Moriarty at 541-776-4471, or by email at [email protected] . Follow him at @ThomasDMoriarty . By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 24, 2015 @ 5:27 pm Updated Feb 24, 2015 at 5:39 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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. 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 Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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