A fired Washington County sheriff's deputy received probation Tuesday for choking a co-worker last year.
Jonathan Christensen, 39, in July pleaded guilty to one count each of coercion, strangulation and official misconduct before Judge Charles Bailey in Washington County Circuit Court. Following the conditions of the plea deal, Bailey sentenced Christensen to two years of probation, to complete 80 hours of community service, to pay $12,000 in restitution and to undergo anger management counseling.
Sentencing for the felony coercion charge was set for July 2018, as part of a deferred sentencing agreement. If Christensen satisfies conditions of his probation -- completing the community service, paying restitution and receiving counseling -- the coercion charge will be dismissed before then.
Remaining fourth-degree assault and official misconduct charges were dismissed Tuesday as part of the agreement. Christensen also relinquished his police certification with the state's Department of Public Safety Standards and Training and agreed to not seek employment in law enforcement.
Bailey told the parties that he did not agree with the plea deal and said he only accepted it because the victim in the case did not want to go to trial. The victim also attended Tuesday's hearing and gave a lengthy and emotional statement, saying Christensen's actions have wounded her "physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and financially."
"Every aspect of my life has been changed by this event," she told the court. "My professional life, my personal life, even my belief in myself."
Christensen, who was fired from his corporal position in August 2015, was arrested in December after a grand jury indicted him on the charges.
The investigation into Christensen began after an anonymous writer sent a letter to the sheriff's office and The Oregonian/OregonLive alleging that some deputies had sex on the job and engaged in other sexual misconduct. Christensen was named in the letter.
The sheriff's office asked Portland police to investigate the claims, and Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Chris Ramras prosecuted the case.
In April 2015, the co-worker made allegations in a restraining order against Christensen. She alleged Christensen arrived at her home that March while he was on duty wearing his uniform and gun and shoved her against the wall, pulled her hair and choked her, demanding that she continue their sexual relationship.
Two other deputies were placed on paid leave after the letter arrived at the sheriff's office. One of them, Sgt. Dan Cardinal, resigned while under investigation in May 2015 and pleaded no contest to official misconduct in January for engaging in sexual activity while on duty. Cardinal received probation.
In March, former Deputy David Bergquist pleaded guilty to one count of sexual harassment in Clackamas County Circuit Court for grabbing a co-worker's breast, pulling it out from her clothing then putting his mouth on it at a union party in winter 2015. He also received probation.
Bergquist, who retired just before pleading guilty, was not named in the letter but was placed on leave shortly after the agency received it.
This story will be updated with more information from Tuesday's hearing.
-- Rebecca Woolington
503-294-4049; @rwoolington