The Continuing Saga of Randy Ray Richardson

As longtime WW readers may recall, Portland lawyer Randy Ray Richardson (or "R-cubed" as he liked to call himself) has enjoyed a checkered career. Once a star in the Multnomah County District Attorney's office — and later a high-profile defense lawyer, Richardson is now serving time in prison.

This week, Richardson became a pawn in the argument raging about the early release of prisoners from the state system. In broad terms, Crime Victims United, which advocates for stiffer sentences, is upset about what they see as the early release of some dangerous criminals because of House Bill 3058, which passed in 2009. Here's a fuller explanation of Crime Victims United's position from the group's director, Steve Doell.

Doell's counterpart on the left in the long-running argument over incarceration policies is state Sen. Chip Shields (D-Portland). Yesterday, the NW Republican blog reported that right after the 2009 legislative session, Shields sought lighter treatment for Richardson. Shields asked Multnomah County Judge Michael McShane to let Richardson serve the remainder of his sentence in Multnomah County jail, so Richardson could be closer to his family.

In 2007, KATU reported Multnomah County denied Richardson's request to renew a concealed handgun license in part due to his being captured on tape knocking a woman to the ground. Richardson was not charged for that incident but was sentenced to two years in prison last year for aggravated first degree theft for his role in cheating an elderly woman out of her home.

Judge McShane apparently did not grant Shields' request because Oregon Department of Corrections records show that Richardson is lodged at the Shutter Creek Correctional Institution, a minimum security facility in North Bend.