By RAELYNN RICARTE
News staff writer
February 25, 2008

A California man who tried to run down a Hood River Sheriff Deputy — and assaulted an Oregon State Police Trooper — has been sent to prison.

James Thomas Ruiz, 40, pleaded guilty in circuit court this week to three felony charges related to the March 28, 2007, incidents. He also admitted to being under the influence of methamphetamine during his attempt to elude a police pursuit along Interstate 84.

After accepting Ruiz’ plea, Judge Paul Crowley sentenced him to 30 months in prison for assault and attempted assault. Because of the defendant’s long criminal history, Crowley directed that he have no “good time” or other sentence reduction. The 330 days that Ruiz had already spent in the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility were credited toward the drug conviction.

Ruiz went through three court-appointed attorneys after being arrested. He fired three attorneys for advising him not to risk even harsher penalties with a jury trial, based on a preponderance of damaging evidence.

In November, Crowley finally told Ruiz that “the supply of attorneys is not endless” and he was allowed only one more change of legal counsel. His fourth lawyer was Alexander Hamalian of Portland, who prepared to take the matter before a jury as requested by Ruiz. However, the defendant changed his mind one week before the trial was set to begin.

According to reports, Ruiz has a long criminal history of violent offenses that include manslaughter, car-jacking and willful child cruelty.

“It is a relief for the county of Hood River and the folks at NORCOR to finally be done with this violent career criminal,” said Deputy District Attorney Carrie Rasmussen.

“During his relatively short stay in our community he managed to threaten the lives of two law enforcement officials, injure three people, and endanger dozens of citizens who were subject to his recklessness on I-84.

“I have never seen a case where a defendant was appointed four attorneys at the state’s expense. Ultimately, because of Mr. Ruiz’ delay in taking responsibility for these crimes, he received more time in custody than he had been offered.”

Rasmussen said Ruiz has legal matters pending in California that will be adjudicated after he has served time in Oregon.

Deputy Pete Hughes was forced to leap over a guardrail last spring when Ruiz veered toward him on I-84 near Wyeth. Hughes and Deputy Matt English had been setting up a spike strip to stop the suspect vehicle that had been pursued by Multnomah County Deputies from Wood Village.

When Ruiz swerved away from Hughes to avoid the spike strip, he struck another vehicle and careened onto the roadway shoulder before coming to a stop.

He and Pracilla Velasquez, 20, a female passenger, then left the vehicle and he fled on foot into the nearby forest. She was restrained after resisting arrest by Multnomah County officials and transported to a jail in Portland.

After several hours of searching, Ruiz was located near the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. He attacked Trooper Gavin McIllvenna, who arrived first on the scene, and a conductor hopped off a stopped train to help the embattled officer.