Portland, OR- Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Marshall today sentenced 35-year-old Jesse James Herold to life in prison after convicting him of Murder in the Second Degree. The terms of the sentence allow for a review by the parole board after 25-years in prison.
Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Kevin Demer and Deputy District Attorney Sam Wilton prosecuted the case for the state. After the sentencing Demer said: “Mr. Watts was only 32 years old when he was murdered. His family worried about him knowing that he was houseless and struggling while living on the streets. I hope the anguish and heartache that this family went through is softened by knowing that Mr. Herold received the maximum possible sentence.”
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office thanks the Portland Police Homicide Detail and particularly Det. Sean Macomber and Det. Eric McDaniel for their excellent work investigating the case.
MCDA recognizes the critical work of our victim advocates. As a part of the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office they provided tremendous help and support to the victims in this case.
THE FACTS:
On January 12, 2024, at approximately 7:45 am, Herold stalked the victim Deante Watts for several blocks as he left the Blanchet House in Old Town. Herold then stabbed Mr. Watts several times with a knife on SW Naito Parkway under the Steel Bridge. Herold was arrested in Bellingham, Washington. When a detective from Portland interviewed him six weeks later, Heroldt admitted to the killing and provided collaborating details about the stalking and stabbing. Herold told police he changed clothes after the attack, getting free clothing from someone who was handing it out from a car and disposing of his bloody jacket in a porta-toilet.
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