State v. Laurel

The defendant, Peter Laurel, was convicted pursuant to ORS 163.250 of assault with a dangerous weapon, received a two-year suspended sentence and was placed on two years’ probation. From this conviction he appeals, assigning as sole error the circuit court’s denial of defendant’s motion for a judgment of acquittal.

Four men — the defendant, Gulledge, Wilburn and Thomas — jointly occupied a piece of property in the Takilma area of the Hlinois Valley in Josephine County, Oregon. Thomas held its legal title, although he and Wilburn in fact owned the property together. Located on the land was a…