In Unusual Order, Oregon Judge Tells State Agency to Bond Out Rape Suspect

An impasse apparently continues between an Oregon state agency and the state-court judge who has ordered that the Department of Human Services post $50,000 bail to bond out a rape suspect from jail and thus reunite him with his 13-year-old son.

Clackamas County Circuit Judge Deanne Darling says no showing has been made that Russell Paul Hamblen is an unfit parent, and contends that his son would be better off with him than in foster care, as he is now, reports the Oregonian.

However, a DHS spokesperson says the state agency has no intention of paying the 10 percent required to get Hamblen out of jail on $500,000 bail, and will risk contempt of court or appeal the order if necessary.

Although the article does not explain exactly what type of case is before Darling, it appears that she has been hearing a juvenile matter involving the 13-year-old.

"If he had been a man of means, he could have posted bail and walked," the judge said of Hamblen. He is scheduled to go to trial on the rape case in late January.