Portland man accused of plotting 2023 Smith Rock mass shooting appears in court, a week before his 17-day trial
Barney Lerten
(Update: Adding video)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Portland man accused of plotting a mass shooting at a Smith Rock climbing event nearly two years ago appeared in court Monday, a week before his 17-day jury trial on 26 felony charges is set to begin.
Samson Zebturiah Garner, now 41, took part in the hearing by video from the Deschutes County Jail, where he’s been held on $10 million bail since his arrest in late October 2023, accused of bringing several guns and numerous rounds of ammunition to Central Oregon and planning the attack the the popular climbing area.
Authorities allege Garner was planning to shoot several climbers participating the Smith Rock Craggin’ Classic. Portland police alerted Deschutes County authorities about his plans, and they worked together to locate him.
Last fall, five days before the original trial date, Garner’s defense attorneys asked to delay the proceedings so they could review a large amount of evidence in the case and to consult with expert witnesses about such items as Garner’s recorded phone and video calls from jail and videos of the test-firing of Garner’s guns.
Deschutes County Circuit Judge Alison Emerson agreed to the request and delayed the trial until August 18 of this year. Another hearing is planned Friday afternoon on pre-trial issues. Emerson has set out a trial schedule that would have the proceedings conclude around Sept. 11.
Deputy District Attorney Stacy Neil told the judge they may need to discuss at the motion hearing the relevance for jurors of a term Garner used in one email, in which he was “calling himself a psychopathic monster.” She said the defense wants to call a mental health provider or psychologist to testify about the term and how it pertains to the allegations.
Emerson asked that the pre-trial motions and responses be filed no later than Wednesday evening or Thursday morning, so she can review them before Friday’s hearing. Other issues that may be discussed relate to jury instructions, a piece of evidence and redactions that defense attorneys want on some trial exhibits.
The judge also plans to discuss on Friday what restraints Garner must wear when in the courtroom for his trial. Emerson said she plans to empanel three alternate jurors, since the trial is expected to take four weeks.