Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis announced that 24-year-old Alexander Cruz Pola McGinnis received an 80-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to Domestic Violence Coercion, Assault III and Domestic Violence Assault IV. He received a sentence of 30 months on the Domestic Violence Coercion, 30 months on the Assault III, and 14 months on the Domestic Violence Assault IV. All sentences will run consecutive.
The resolution of this case resulted after a judicial settlement conference conducted on May 1, 2024. Pola McGinnis pled guilty and was sentenced the same day.
By pleading guilty to Coercion, Pola McGinnis admitted to compelling his victim into getting into a vehicle with him, by instilling the fear in her that if she did not do so, he would cause injury to their infant child. He further admitted that the act constituted Domestic Violence, which was aggravated by his threat of actual violence and physical injury. By pleading guilty to Assault III, Pola McGinnis admitted to causing physical injury to his infant child. By pleading guilty to Domestic Violence Assault IV, Pola McGinnis admitted to assaulting his victim in the presence of their minor child.
In July 2023, Pola McGinnis coerced his victim into a vehicle by taking their shared 6-month old child, and threatening the child’s safety. He drove the victim and child out of The Dalles, and well outside the city limits, into orchard land. Once outside of town, he assaulted his victim by punching and strangling her. He threatened the child by pulling the child out of the car, placing her on the ground, and stomping around her head. Pola McGinnis stripped his victim down, and then left her in the orchard, naked, and alone in the dark. He drove off with the infant with him. The victim feared for her life before a Good Samaritan discovered the victim near the road, walking in distress, and was able to take her back to town.
The great investigation work of the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office helped bring Pola McGinnis to justice. The victim showed a tremendous amount of bravery by testifying at Grand Jury, and actively engaging with the District Attorney’s Office at the settlement conference. Her participation took the power away from her abuser and brought the case to a peaceful, final conclusion.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court placed Pola McGinnis on 36 months of post-prison supervision. If he violates conditions put in place by his post-prison supervisor, he could receive further sanctions in the future.
District Attorney Matthew Ellis and previous Wasco Co Deputy District Attorney Danielle DeCant handled this case.
No additional information is available for release at this time.
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