By Stephen Floyd
After accepting a plea deal last month, a Bend woman has been sentenced to three years in prison for the fatal dog mauling of a former Silverton man.
Jessica Rae McCleery, 38, was sentenced Dec. 29, 2023, in Deschutes County Circuit Court after pleading guilty Dec. 22 to charges including criminally-negligent homicide.
McCleery admitted she was negligently responsible when her three dogs attacked Joe Keeton, 56, on July 19, 2023, at a homeless encampment outside Bend.
In addition to three years in custody McCleery was sentenced to three years of post-prison supervision during which she may not possess animals. The three dogs in question were forfeited to BrightSide Animal Center, in Redmond, where they were housed after the attack.
Prior to her change of plea McCleery was charged with first-degree manslaughter for which she faced at least 10 years in prison. This was dismissed as part of the agreement. McCleery additionally pled guilty to two counts of maintaining a dangerous dog that killed a person.
During sentencing, Keeton’s daughter, Kansas Keeton, addressed the court in a statement read by Deputy District Attorney Rosalie Beaumont, as reported by The Bend Bulletin. Kansas Keeton recalled her father as intelligent, friendly and ambitious, and said his death highlights the vulnerabilities of the homeless community.
Both Keeton and McCleery were living in a homeless encampment at Juniper Ridge just northeast of Bend, locally called “Dirt World,” when the attack took place. Keeton had moved to Bend in March of 2023 after living in Silverton since 2018. He was a familiar face to Silverton residents and service providers.
Authorities said three pitbull/bull mastiff-mix dogs owned by McCleery attacked Keeton unprovoked. They later learned the dogs had a history of attacking people, including three hospitalizations, and accused McCleery of negligently causing Keeton’s death.
During the sentencing hearing it was revealed McCleery called 911 and tried to save Keeton, then directed police to the location as they arrived, according to The Bulletin.
Judge Wells Ashby said these actions and others such as McCleery’s willing surrender of the dogs showed she meant no harm to Keeton. Ashby said it was also important to acknowledge the “horrific manner of [Keeton’s] death.”
According to The Bulletin, Kansas Keeton said McCleery’s punishment was “just” but also noted the sentence does not compare to the “deeply traumatizing” manner of Keeton’s death.
