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State will pay for Jackson defense Judge rules former caseworker cannot afford total legal fees expected in sex-abuse trial By Jonel Aleccia State taxpayers will continue to pick up the tab to defend a former Jackson County caseworker jailed on sex abuse charges, a judge ruled Wednesday. Robert Forrest Jackson, 62, of Talent, will pay nearly $17,000 into state coffers in return for the reinstatement of his court-appointed attorney, Circuit Court Judge Pat Crain agreed. By Jackson�s account, his assets � including proceeds from his state retirement fund � are not nearly enough to pay for defense against two dozen criminal sex charges. Jackson is accused of sodomizing and abusing seven of his adult male developmentally disabled clients. "There�s not enough money there to hire an attorney to give a defense that gives me a somewhat even playing field," Jackson told Crain in court. "I don�t expect to get what O.J. Simpson had." Local private lawyers quoted fees ranging from $50,000 to more than $160,000 to take on the case set for trial Nov. 14 in a county court. Andy Vandergaw, the court-appointed attorney representing Jackson, estimated the case will require between 300 and 500 hours of work. Jackson, a 13-year veteran of the county developmental disability program, retired suddenly in July when he was confronted with abuse allegations. He was arrested Aug. 2. He is charged with a dozen counts each of first-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse involving seven clients. Jackson initially was granted a public defender, but the defense was revoked after a verifier noted he received a $27,000 lump sum retirement payment from the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System. However, Jackson and Vandergaw argued that the sum was reduced to about $17,000 after paying a previous loan obligation, taxes and other fees. In an agreement approved by indigence verifier Deborah Anderson, the county Public Defenders Office will keep monthly accounts of costs for Jackson�s defense. If additional funds are required, the state will pay the rest. "This is not a case where he is asking the court to give him a free defense while retaining assets," Vandergaw said. "This is a case where he cannot afford an adequate, let alone a constitutionally sound defense." Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.