In a reexamination of a 2006 sexual assault case, a Multnomah County jury found Daniel W. Bluestein, 49, guilty once again, reaffirming a prior decision that was overturned due to a recent change in legal standards concerning jury unanimity, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office announced.
The 2007 case against Bluestein ended with a nearly unanimous decision, an 11-1 verdict that convicted him of Rape in the First Degree, Sodomy in the First Degree, and Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. This conviction was upended by the Oregon Supreme Court’s ruling in Watkins v. Ackley which declared non-unanimous jury verdicts unconstitutional, sending Bluestein's case back to the courtroom for a new trial. Bluestein served 140 months based on the initial sentencing by Judge Cheryl Albrecht in 2007. Now, after the retrial, which spanned from June 24 to July 1, 2024, the new 12-person jury reached a consensus, unanimous in finding the defendant guilty on all counts.
Deputy District Attorney Ryan Solomon was at the forefront for the state in the retrial, which concluded in front of Senior Judge Roxanne Osborne. With the verdict now unanimous, Bluestein faces sentencing once again, scheduled for August 16, as affirmed by the DA's Office. The office also extended gratitude to the Portland Police Bureau officers and detectives who played a pivotal role in the reevaluation of this case,
Though the justice system has churned slowly, taking years to navigate through legal intricacies the outcome of this retrial resonates as a testament to the persistent effort of survivors, advocates, and the judicial system’s ability to reconsider prior decisions in the light of evolving legal frameworks. More specific details regarding the case and the impact of this verdict are available on the Multnomah County District Attorney's official website.
