Posted on 05/14/2004 3:05:29 PM PDT by oceanperch
Attorney being held has Newport ties
By Steve Card Of the News-Times
A Portland attorney arrested by FBI agents Thursday as part of the investigation into the March 11 deadly bombing in Madrid, Spain has connections to Lincoln County.
Brandon Mayfield, who currently practices law in Washington County, was taken into federal custody on a material witness warrant after Mayfield's fingerprint was allegedly found on a plastic bag containing bomb material associated with the railway bombings in Spain.
No formal charges have been filed against Mayfield and, in fact, Spanish police have questioned the fingerprints linking him to the bombing.
A federal grand jury was scheduled to hear the case against Mayfield on Tuesday, according to an Associated Press report, and then determine whether or not he should be indicted on charges.
Prior to moving to the Portland area in the summer of 2002, Mayfield practiced law in Lincoln County.
He was associated with the Newport law firm of Macpherson, Gintner, Gordon & Diaz.
One of the partners in that firm, Rick Diaz, said this week the news of Mayfield's possible connection to the bombing was "almost unbelievable to us." Diaz added, "My first thought, when they said it was his fingerprint, wasn't that he's got a connection to terrorists.
It was that he must have ... somehow come in contact with something that ended up getting passed along and eventually ended up over there."
Mayfield, 37, was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 2000.
His position with the Newport law firm was the start of his career in law. "He was doing domestic relations cases, some immigration law, and litigation support work," Diaz said.
And the image presented by Mayfield was a far cry from someone who might be involved in terrorist activities, Diaz said.
"This guy did not have radical Islamic views. We didn't even know he was Muslim until months after he was working here. It wasn't something he wore on his sleeve."
Diaz recalls being a bit surprised to find out Mayfield was a practicing Muslim, but then when he found out Mayfield's wife was Egyptian, it made more sense.
"He converted to his wife's religion for his family. A lot of people do that, so I didn't think twice about it. Plus, we're not talking about somebody of Arab descent from the Middle East.
We're talking about a kid from Kansas who was in the U.S. military." Diaz said he hopes people will wait until the investigation is complete before drawing any conclusions in this case.
"My concern right now is that if he's not directly involved, that he not be harmed any more than he has to be in this process. Hopefully, people will be fair with him if he is exonerated, and he won't be emerging from this process under a cloud of suspicion."
Man my perfect little town I moved to 15yrs ago in the last few years has gone to hell.
It is the Methanphetamine manufacturing capital of the state of Oregon. Probation is the punishment for manufacturing and dealing.
Migration workers I don't know if they are legal or not have come here in mass.
And now a Islamist held for questioning to links to Spain lived and worked here. As in the article his co workers were shocked at the news. Ah the terrorist handbook makes a big point on secrecy.
The old 7-11 stores are now ME owned and the one on the Bayfront was in the news seems the owner had pornography/indecent pics on the windows facing out toward the street and police told him several times to take it down, he didn't and was arrested.
We are also the largest booze selling capital in the state. We have state run Liquor stores so they keep track.
What happen to my lil fishing/retirement/Danish community I came here to live our lives out in 15yrs ago.
I am glad I live outside of town in the country I would go ballistic dealing with the social terror that has invaded Newport Oregon.
Oh and let's not forget Karen Danman the Gay Minister from Washinton who sued to keep her position even though she lied about having a lesbian lover and a kid with that lover. She announced today that she would not be going back to Washington even though she won the suit. She is going to stay here in the house she painted bright shiney deep purple with puke green trim. Purple houses are popping up everywhere. If I painted my house Red white and Blue they would probably force me to paint over it.
He worked and lived here in Newport too!
-Portland, Oregon- hub of terror? Some Surprising Connections--
I have seen your list. Great job.
The PNW is such a visually beautiful area but it's seems to be attracting bad elements.
Drowning out the good. We got 'em all here.
Oh and I forgot one group enviro-terrorists.
Portland Police are not to be messed with either. They shoot and ask questions later.
What a shame. I love Newport, with the old bayfront and the aquarium and all.
In fact, I drove through with my mother just last Friday. We were running late to get to my sister's house outside of Lebanon, so we could only briefly stop and walk around the bayfront.
That's a shame......I have family down there. We love the area and go there at least once a year. I was kinda brought up in Pacific City. I sure hate all of these changes!
""He was doing domestic relations cases, some**** immigration law*****, and litigation support work," Diaz said.
I'd like to take a look at some of those cases.
You wouldn't believe what's happening in Grants Pass.
I moved here 17 years ago, and back then you could leave your keys in the truck, land and homes were reasonable and there was no crime to speak of.
Now, the Daily Courier just reported that there have been SIX murders since September. Before we were lucky to have maybe one every two years.
You can't go to the Safeway at night because of all the thuggish characters hanging around. You can't go downtown to the post office after night...almost once a month there's a story about someone being knifed, mugged or assaulted by the cretins who have turned that area into a hooligan hangout.
Also, the Courier reported that we have some of the highest gas prices in America, they average $1.45 a gallon. Houses that Joe Six-Pack could afford to own are now heading into the $250,000 range for a three-bedroom, two bath house on one or two acres.
I don't see how this can continue...traffic is now backed up at most major intersections to the point that it takes two changes of the light to move through an intersection and there's hundreds of homes being built in dozens of new subdivisions that are being built over bulldozed mountainsides and hilltops.
This place is really becoming unpleasant to live in. I sometimes wonder whether I should have stayed in North Idaho, Alaska or Montana, but those places are probably being destroyed also.
Ed
Sounds like you are feeling it too.
I am not in any position to ever relocate with my son's care needs.
However if he passes on it is the RV north to Alaska or anywhere very rural.
We thought Oregon was it but all the thieves and bad guys have found new territory to reek havic on good citizens.
Grants Pass I remember was a little town when we visited friends a decade ago. To Bad.
Just above the Bayfront up in back of Mariner Square/wax museum in the berry bushes are transient camps now.
The other day they outlawed skateboards, rolling my eyes.
We have some huge issues and a skateboard here and their is notan issue. We have a skate park but they built it adjacent to the Juvenile Hall and our Juvey Hall looks like an old apartment building so the kids are often sitting in the windows.
Rarely had burgs and theft now the via the scanner it is a nightly occurance.
The murder rate is the only crime that has stayed low.
Just a few years ago we freely went shopping late at night now it seems all the hippie/punk/druggie looking types are roaming around.
I always have someone walk us out to the van now.
Can I add this one?
Attorney (Mayfield) Being Held Has Ties to Newport (Oregon)
Address:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1135773/posts?page=5
Me too. What gets me is the "shock" when friends/co workers/ neighbors find out.
The BIG thing in the Jihad guide is not telling anyone including the wife and kids what you are training for.
You are supposed to melt in with society so as to go undetected.
Thanks- I'll add it now.
It's sad to hear that about Grants Pass. It was such a lovely little city. When I sold my home a year ago in Medford, I found I couldn't even afford to buy anything in Oregon. I got lucky, and have the most wonderful place, a view to die for, just over the Sisq's in No. California.
There's some really beautiful places just over the mountain passes. The Colstine Valley, Hilt, Gasquee (sp?.)
I love that area. Then you got the Trinity Alps, Lake Shasta, Mt. Shasta.
It's pretty.
How's it going in California vis a vis the government and taxes?
See ya'!
Ed
Sorry about your son, but two years ago I had enough of California. I have Alabama as a home base and winter there and farther south in South Texas. both very rural and friendly locations.
i was born in Tyler/Kilgore raised in Northern Cali.
I will keep Texas in mind.
Although my son's health/activity is not like it used to be he claims niether one of us is going to die...hmmm. He has died three times in his 25yrs. and came back so he may know something we don't. God only knows.
How's it going in California vis a vis the government and taxes?
______________
It's pretty much a "wash" with Oregon. Ca. has higher auto registration, lower property tax....but has sales tax...they'll get us either way. However, last week I recieved a renewal (which I no longer need) for my Oregon Assumed business name and the fee had increased 400%. So I will assume that since you all didn't pass the tax increase, they've found other ways to get it.
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