I was born and raised in Lane County as a third generation Oregonian by a single working mother. I went to Winston Churchill High School and then on to Lane Community College where I graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree. I then attended University of Oregon and planned to become an investigative journalist with a focus on large corporations and the damage they do to communities when money is prioritized over people. While taking the class Law for Journalists at University of Oregon I came to realize that I loved researching and arguing the law. I graduated from the University of Oregon with a double major Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Journalism Communication. I then went to the University of Oregon School of Law with the goal of affecting positive change in our community through legal activism. During the first year of law school I nearly dropped out but with some encouragement from my mother I stuck it out, had my first child during my second year of law school and ultimately graduated with my Juris Doctorate in 2004. Throughout my years working towards my degrees I worked a variety of jobs to support myself and my family. I worked in a variety of retail stores before becoming a paint expert at a local paint store then in a big box store these years in retail taught me a lot about how hard it can be to survive in poverty. I came to Coos County and Southwestern Oregon Public Defender Services on February 14, 2005 as a brand new attorney and have been here ever since. I have always believed in our system of justice imperfect though it is. However, I most firmly believe that in order for our system to work dedicated public defense attorneys are essential. We work hard to hold the state accountable, to ensure that all of SWOPDS clients are treated with dignity and respect and to ensure our clients’ Constitutional Rights are upheld. In every case our goal is to help clients achieve the best possible outcomes. I began doing criminal defense work then moved into juvenile law which I absolutely love. I am invested in always working to improve my practice and the outcomes for my clients. I believe that justice must be for everyone, not just those who can buy it otherwise it is meaningless.

Background
Jon grew up in the rural outskirts of the Portland metro area in eastern Multnomah County and Northern Clackamas County. He graduated from Sandy Union High School in 1987 and spent the next 28+ years travelling the country and the world while serving in the US Navy. Jon attained the rank of Petty Officer Third Class as an Enlisted Sailor, then entered the US Naval Academy in 1989, graduated and was commissioned as an Ensign in 1993, and retired from naval service as a Commander in 2014.

Education
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Oregon State University (2003)
Bachelor of Arts in History, Oregon State University (2003)
Doctor of Jurisprudence, Texas Tech University (2006)
Master of Science in Personal Financial Planning, Texas Tech University (2006)

Background
I was born and raised on the Southern Oregon Coast and after moving away for new experiences I returned to Oregon in 2006 where I took the bar exam. Prior to joining Southwestern Oregon Public Defenders in 2011, I had the opportunity to work at a private law firm in Newport, Oregon, that handled court-appointed criminal cases. That experience along with later working as the court-appointed defense attorney in the City of Reedsport Municipal Court while operating my own practice, led me to want to practice criminal law defense on a full-time basis. While I am not working in the office or in court representing clients, I enjoy traveling as well as attending as many concerns and live sporting events as I can.