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 » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Former Jackson County sheriff's lieutenant cleared of misconduct allegations ... Contractor allegedly traded contraband for sex with inmates at Jackson County Jail ... Co-conspirator gets 25 months in prison in Carson Helicopter crash case ... Former Jackson County sheriff's lieutenant cleared of misconduct allegations ... Contractor allegedly traded contraband for sex with inmates at Jackson County Jail ... Co-conspirator gets 25 months in prison in Carson Helicopter crash case ... CARSON HELICOPTERS FRAUD Sentencing to come Tuesday for former helicopter executive Families of firefighters who died in 2008 crash testify in court Comment By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press Posted Jun. 15, 2015 at 4:00 PM Updated Jun 15, 2015 at 11:47 PM By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press Posted Jun. 15, 2015 at 4:00 PM Updated Jun 15, 2015 at 11:47 PM » Social News The families of seven wildland firefighters on Monday poured out their grief, loss and anger at a helicopter executive who has admitted falsifying performance specifications for a helicopter that crashed in 2008, killing seven firefighters and two pilots. The emotional outpouring took place in a crowded federal courtroom in Medford's James A. Redden Federal Courthouse, where Carson Helicopters executive Steven Metheny is being sentenced on fraud and other charges in the deadliest helicopter crash involving working firefighters in U.S. history.  After some four hours of statements from families of the dead and another four hours of attorneys' arguments, U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken told Metheny late Monday she needed more time to consider his sentence. Sentencing was postponed until today. A key issue is the amount of money involved in the fraud. Prosecutor Byron Chatfield argued Metheny should go to prison for more than 15 years, largely because the contract won by his fraudulent bid had the potential to be worth more than $50 million. Defense lawyer Steven Myers countered a higher level of proof is required than the prosecution provided when a sentencing enhancement greatly increases the length of sentence. The money increased the guidelines from four to 10 months, to 188 months. Myers added the sentence sought by the prosecution amounted to what someone might get for manslaughter, noting that there was no evidence that Metheny had personally profited from the fraud, only the company he worked for, and that there was nothing in the plea agreement over the guilty pleas blaming Metheny for the deaths of the people on the helicopter. Myers urged the judge to sentence Metheny to three years probation, including house arrest. Though not taking responsibility for the deaths, Metheny turned to the families and said he could not begin to understand their pain. He added that in the same crash, he lost his best friend, the pilot. "I can't even erase his number from my cell phone," he said. "What I did was wrong, it was shortsighted, and I am ashamed for my actions," he said. "As a pilot, I would never jeopardize an aircraft or the lives of anyone on board." The August 2008 crash near Weaverville, California, came as a crew from Grayback Forestry in Merlin was being pulled out of rugged country where they had been fighting the Iron 44 fire. By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press Posted Jun. 15, 2015 at 4:00 PM Updated Jun 15, 2015 at 11:47 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