The Oregon Court of Appeals reversed and remanded the manslaughter conviction of Ian Cranston. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter in the first and second degree, first-degree assault and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon in the shooting death of 22-year-old Barry Washington Jr. in September 2021 after the two men got into an altercation outside a bar in downtown Bend. There is now a plaque in honor of Washington at the corner of NW Wall Street and Oregon Avenue.
The Appeals Court decision states, “Defendant argues that the trial court erred when it refused to use his special jury instruction regarding the absence of a duty to retreat under Oregon self-defense law. We agree with defendant.” Cranston has claimed he was acting in self-defense. The Oregon Department of Justice will decide whether to ask the Oregon Supreme Court to review the decision, before the Deschutes County District Attorney decides on next steps in the case. DA Steve Gunnels told the Source, “We respect the Court of Appeals’ decision, but I am hopeful that there will be a review of the issue by the Oregon Supreme Court.”
Read the Appeals Court decision here.
This article appears in the Source November 6, 2025.
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Judge Beth Bagley knows the law. She also knew that by not giving the jury this vital instruction that it would be prejudicial against Ian Cranston. Judge Bagley should be recalled and removed from the bench!