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Date: 07-28-2020
Case Style:
United States of America v. Edward Thomas Schinzing
Case Number: 3:20-mj-00176
Judge: Unassigned
Court: United States District Court for the District of Oregon (Multnomah County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney's Office
Defendant's Attorney: Call 918-582-6422 for help finding a criminal defense lawyer to represent you.
Description:
Portland, OR - The United States of America charged Edward Thomas Schinzing
with arson.
Edward Thomas Schinzing, 32, has been charged by criminal complaint with using fire to maliciously damage or destroy the Justice Center in downtown Portland on May 29, 2020.
Multnomah County and the City of Portland own the Justice Center building located at 1120 SW 3rd Avenue in Portland. The facility houses the Multnomah County Detention Center jail and the Portland Police Bureau headquarters.
According to court documents, Schinzing was marching with a group of protestors when he arrived at the front of the Justice Center shortly before 11:00 p.m. on May 29, 2020. A few minutes later, several people broke windows near the northwest corner of the Justice Center where the Corrections Records Office is located. They subsequently entered the secured office through the broken windows.
Three civilian Multnomah County employees were working inside the Corrections Records Office at the time and fled for safety as the windows were broken. Based on a preliminary review of publicly-available videos from YouTube, Twitter, surveillance cameras, and still photos posted online, about 30 individuals entered the Justice Center through the broken windows. The individuals spray-painted portions of the office; damaged computer and other office equipment, furniture, and interior windows; and started fires.
Among those who entered the Justice Center, Schinzing was identified by a comparison with a jail booking photo and a distinctive tattoo of his last name across his upper back. Schinzing spread a fire that started near the front of the office by lighting additional papers on fire and moving them into a drawer of a separate cubicle.
At about 11:08 p.m., the building’s fire sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fires. At about the same time, law enforcement officers secured that portion of the Justice Center. The Multnomah County Detention Center housed approximately 289 inmates at the time.
Schinzing made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was ordered detained pending further court proceedings. Arson is punishable by up to 20 years in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years.
This case is being jointly investigated by the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); U.S. Marshals Service; Portland Police Bureau; Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office; and Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Criminal complaints are only accusations of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
18:844(f)(1) Whoever maliciously damages or destroys, or attempts to damage or destroy, by means of fire, any building, other personal or real property in whole or in part or possessed by any institution or organization receiving Federal financial assistance, shall be imprisoned for not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years, fined under this title, or both.
Outcome: Defendant is presumed innocent.
07/28/2020 1 Sealed Complaint signed by Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo as to Edward Thomas Schinzing (1) (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit in Support of Criminal Complaint) (jn) (Entered: 07/28/2020)
07/28/2020 3 Motion to Seal Complaint and Arrest Warrant and Related Materials filed by USA as to Defendant Edward Thomas Schinzing. (jn) (Entered: 07/28/2020)
07/28/2020 4 Order to Seal Complaint and Arrest Warrant and Related Materials as to Edward Thomas Schinzing. Signed on 7/27/2020 by Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo. (jn) (Entered: 07/28/2020)
07/28/2020 5 Minutes of Proceedings: First Appearance before Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo as to Defendant Edward Thomas Schinzing held on 7/28/2020. Order unsealing case. Proceedings conducted via video-conferencing. Defendant verbally consents to appearance by video-conference. Order appointing counsel: Ryan Costello. Defendant advised of rights and waived preliminary hearing. Defendant waived reading of Complaint. Defendants Location-Custody status is: Detained as Flight Risk/Danger. Arraignment set for 8/27/2020 at 1:30PM in Portland by videoconference before the duty magistrate. Counsel Present for Plaintiff: William Narus. Counsel Present for Defendant: Ryan Costello. Restraint Order: NR. (Court Reporter: Bonita Shumway) (gm) (Entered: 07/28/2020)
07/28/2020 6 Order of Detention as to Defendant Edward Thomas Schinzing. Signed on 7/28/20 by Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo. (gm) (Entered: 07/28/2020)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: