Locals look forward to better lives after felony records removed

Brandi Clark , District Attorney Matthew Ellis, Joshua Aljaouni, Alyssa McNally, Ashlee Klaviter, Mitzi Wickersham Mason and Tiffany Greenslade pose for phone photos after a hearing that eliminated their felony convictions in Wasco County Circuit Court on Jan. 6.

In the Interest of Justice: First Felony Convictions vacated under new Oregon Law

By Tom Peterson

As the law saw it, five felons stood outside courtroom 301 on the second floor of the Wasco County Courthouse on Thursday morning, Jan. 6.

But there was not that usual sense of trepidation or melancholy that permeates such quarters prior to judgments and sentences - when jail time and labor are coming due to those that look down for stability or stare ahead in defiance.

But on this day it was different. 

It was a day to remove felonies when it no longer advanced the interest of justice.

And this group of four women and one man in this cavernous room would be the first in the state of Oregon to feel it be true.

“I am going to school to be a teacher,” said Alyssa McNally, 31, who was looking forward to the vacation of her felonies for methamphetamine convictions. “This gives me a chance at that job. Right now, I can’t get a job at the Safeway Deli. That’s a problem.”

So in the courthouse, there was an odd sense of celebration and a strong sense of family. Talk about life success could be overheard as small children darted around the legs of grownups. 

Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis also waited. 

Judgment time was set for 10:15 a.m.

Punishment was not on the table this day. 

Rather, these people were waiting to be freed, given liberties.

They were felons with drug convictions and property crimes They had paid their dues in the eyes of the judiciary and Ellis’.

And they were also mothers, fathers, job holders, students with hopes for their future.

In name, they were Joshua Aljaouni, Alyssa McNally, Ashlee Klaviter, Mitzi (Wickerham) Mason, and Tiffany Greenslade. 

Each individual came with their own story of addiction. Each came with common threads of sobriety, reconnecting with family and becoming contributing members to their communities.  

Oregon Senate Bill 819 made this reunion of sorts possible.

The law went into effect on Jan. 1. It is considered a huge win for those looking to remove felonies from their records and vault the barricades that are keeping them from better jobs and ultimately better lives that were previously squashed by a background check.

The law gives local District Attorney’s increased discretion to remove felony convictions for those who have served their sentences, and proven they have atoned for their crimes.

This shift in the delivery of justice is in acknowledgement of an individual’s ability to change, overcome, and grow despite past wrong doings. It is important because prior to the passage of the law a felon could serve their time and then still become a contributing member of society, raise a family and give back to their communities and still have their criminal record prevent them from getting hired, finding housing, or obtaining certain licensing such as a teaching license.

Wasco County Circuit Court Judge Janet Stauffer called District Attorney Ellis a ‘trailblazer’ in his utilization of the law. 

“This is one of the most important dockets I’ve ever had,” Stauffer said from her phone on Thursday. Her vehicle was stuck in her snowy driveway in Dufur, and she was unable to attend the hearing in person.

“I’m sure all of you are excited about having these felonies removed from your record,” she said over a speaker in the courtroom.

But she cautioned them not to break out in celebration in her absence. She added, however, that they were “welcome to dance in the courtroom” once the hearing was finished.

Joshua Aljaouni and Tiffany Greenslade after a hearing that vacated their felonies on Jan. 6.

Joshua Aljaouni, 32

He had six drug felonies related to methamphetamine and three convictions for identity theft on his record dating back to 2018.

With a six-month postponement of his prison sentence, Aljaouni chose to enter the Portland Rescue Mission drug recovery program at The Harbor in Portland.

“I’ve never had a client graduate from that program,” said his defense attorney Shannon Tissot, noting its difficulty.

He celebrated four years of Sobriety on May 4, 2021. He is attending a 5-year Bachelor’s and Master’s program at Multnomah University to become a pastor. 

He spoke to Stauffer.

“My only goal was to get out of jail,” Aljaouni said of first attending the recovery program when Stauffer delayed sentencing. “I really had no intention of having the life I have today.” 

Stauffer continued to give the young man additional postponements as he stayed in the recovery program.

“That pushed me to succeed,” he said. “I thought, why not just finish. Just graduate. God was doing heart surgery on me…”

Now, “I rent a house - my name is on the lease,” he said. “I’ve had a job for two years (in concrete work). I never had a job for over 6 months. People from The Dalles are reaching out to me for help to lead them on the path that I am on. I thank the court for giving me this opportunity.”

“Thank District Attorney Ellis,” Stauffer responded. “He got together with other District attorneys and pushed for it.” 

“You should be proud of yourself,” Stauffer said. “I am really, really happy to be part of this, and I am going to sign these reconsiderations of conviction.”

Ellis said he had contacted a victim in the case and he said they were interested to hear how it turned out.

District Attorney Matthew Ellis and Alyssa McNally chat after the hearing to vacate her felony convictions.

Alyssa McNally, 31

McNally had three drug convictions from 2015 and 2016. 

“There are no victims in these crimes,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Kara Davis. “The damage that was done, was done to herself.” She said McNally had made great strides in her life.

Her defense attorney Richard Balsley said McNally had worked through her substance abuse with the Wasco County Family Dependency Court Program. The program provides mothers a place to stay and safely keep their children while they maintain their sobriety.

She currently works at Cousin’s Restuarant and was the employee of the year, Balsley said. 

McNally said the choice for treatment was uncomfortable but her graduation gave her the ability to raise her “amazing 4-year-old son.”

She said entering The Dalles WINGS program was the best decision she ever made. 

WINGS provides neighborhood housing, family, and life activity for many women on supervision. This gives them the means to live safely, raise their babies and young children, attain jobs and eventually move into their own homes feeling confident and independent.

Stauffer then vacated her felonies.

 “These vacations will make a huge difference in so many lives,” she said.

Ashlee Klaviter receives an embrace from Brandi Clark after the hearing on Thursday.

Ashlee Klaviter, 34

Klaviter had methamphetamine and theft convictions between 2009 and 2014.

Stauffer said it was “heartbreaking when I ran into you on the street and you were using.”

Stauffer knew the Dufur family.

Klaviter said her parents were drug addicts and abusive and led a chaotic household that eventually ended with her in a group home.

“I was 22 when I tried meth,” she said. “My daughter was two, and I felt like suicide.”

She said she was arrested 30 or 40 times during her drug use. 

But with her conviction, Klaviter entered Family Dependency Court and took care of her own issues and went on to start helping others in the program, said her attorney Jerrett Glass. 

She has gone on to work for the Mid-Columbia Center for Living and assists the Department of Human Services. 

Glass summed up by saying, she was 5 years sober, in school, a good mother, a great employee and an especially good advocate for her clients.

At the end of the hearing, Klaviter said, “I always thought mom did not want us.” But through her own addiction, she realized, “She did want us, but did not get to us.”

And it was the birth of her own child that changed her life.

“I knew that is what I wanted. I wanted to be clean and sober and be part of my child’s life.”

Klaviter is working on a transfer degree to Portland State University. 

“To reach my goals to get to OHSU and be a social worker I have to volunteer at school. She said the felony conviction would stop that dream. “It’s a no-go,” she said.

Stauffer vacated her felonies.

Mitzi (Wickerham) Mason, 41

Wickerham- the name used in convictions - had methamphetamine convictions from 2014 and 2015.

Her attorney Louis Grossman said Wickerham had an “exemplerary record” finding success in her drug treatment and her volunteer work at WINGS. 

“She is an intelligent person and will go far,” he said. 

She eluded police and failed to show for court appearances while using meth. 

“I would abscond and run,” she told the judge.

She was pregnant with a daughter.  She eventually ended up at CODA Treatment Center in Portland. She told the court she was so sick, she considered an abortion.

“I was so sick I was willing to give up,” she said, noting there was “not enough anesthesia to hide anymore.” 

After her final arrest in 2016, she said she was taken to jail where she had a hot shower and could lay down to think- that’s when she committed to change her life, she said.

Wickerham is set to graduate from college this June with two degrees with a 3.94-grade-point average, she said. She is currently employed with the Mid Columbia Community Action Council working in the program to help houseless veterans.

Judge Stauffer vacated her convictions after noting her work to help others dealing with alcohol and drug addictions. 

Wickerham said she looked forward to not being judged on her past.

 “It’s one of the best congratulations we can get,” she said. 

“There is no longer having this weight on me,” she said of having the felonies removed from her record. 

Tiffany Greenslade

Greenslade was convicted of possession of heroin after being arrested in 2012. 

Judge Stauffer said she was happy to see Greenslade’s name added to the docket on Thursday.

After drying her tears, Greenslade thanked The Dalles Police Officer Jamie Carrico for arresting her in front of The Dalles Liquor Store. It saved her life, she said.

Greenslade attended Family Dependency Court for her addiction treatment and became a peer mentor at MId-Columbia Center for Living, her attorney Grossman said. 

She is now a full-time mother and church volunteer.

District Attorney Ellis noted Greenslade's conviction from 2012 would not be considered a crime under today’s laws.

“I woke up this morning thinking about the state I was in 9 years ago,” Greenslade told Stauffer. “How embarrassed I was... I needed accountability for going to treatment on time. It helped me become an adult and a woman… and now I have a beautiful family,” she said, noting it was a day to celebrate.

Stauffer agreed, stating it was a joy to see these five locals come out the other side of their addiction and lead successful lives.

She vacated Greenslade’s conviction and said more District Attorneys needed to get on board with vacating convictions for those who have done the hard work of rehabilitation and are contributing members of society. She said she hoped Hood River DA Carrie Rasmussen would get on board. 

“It’s the right thing to do,” Stauffer said. “We’re not vacating convictions for everyone. You have to do the work.”

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To learn more about vacating a conviction in Wasco County under Senate Bill 819 click here. Ellis said there is a committee to review applications for the vacation of convictions. The committee includes a victim’s advocate, a probation officer, a defense attorney and a law enforcement officer. Oregon Senate Bill 819 was Sponsored by COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY AND BALLOT MEASURE 110 IMPLEMENTATION (at the request of Criminal Justice Reform Clinic, Lewis and Clark Law). To read the bill click here.