The landscape of local journalism in North Portland has been jolted by the arrest of a newspaper owner, Richard David Colvin, on charges that veer far from the ordinary small-town news beat. Colvin, who helms the St. Johns Review, is currently detained in Alabama facing serious allegations. According to court records, he is accused of issuing violent threats, including an abhorrent threat to kidnap, cage, and rape a 77-year-old church secretary. This information comes from AL.com, which reported the distressing details surrounding the charges.
The 60-year-old Colvin is charged with violating interstate communications laws. Having a history with the church, which is currently entangled in its contentious split, Colvin's alleged threats have caused grave concern among members of the Methodist community he once served through his newspaper. This has led to an undeniable tarnishing of the paper's reputation that Gayla Patton, its former owner for 26 years, has sought to distance herself from. In a text obtained by Willamette Week, Patton said, "I want nothing to do with Richard Colvin, any of his employees, or be associated with what a mess the paper has turned into."
It wasn't long ago that the St. Johns Review was considered a beloved mainstay in the community, offering hyper-local coverage for nearly 120 years. Now, in light of the disturbing allegations against its owner, the publication finds itself in a precarious state. According to KOIN 6 News, Anisha Scanlon, the paper's director, has stated that initiatives are underway to transfer ownership to her, presumably in a bid to steer the paper into calmer waters and away from the scandal that has rocked its foundations.
The aftermath of Colvin's arrest and the charges against him have reverberated through both the Methodist community and the world of local journalism, raising questions about the integrity and stability of institutions we often take for granted. While the Review's nosedive began with a change of ownership, the lurid headlines now place the once-revered publication in a new and unsettling light, further marking a decline in its storied history. Willamette Week states that after Patton decided to sell in late 2022, "the paper’s nosedive began"
