OTIS HUEGES ASHLEY III
aka Otis Hedges "Bane" Ashley

Bane Ashley continued

December 26, 2002

                          Taking a look back at 2002 - Top five public safety stories of the past year

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                          • Otis Hedges “Bane” Ashley, a founder of the Benton County Teen Court, was charged by the county's district attorney’s office with three counts of sex abuse, for alleged sexual contact with a 15-year-old girl. Ashley was presiding judge of the teen court program until he was placed on administrative leave in February and charged following an investigation by Oregon State Police. The case is still pending.                

May 12, 2003 Bane Ashley appeared with his lawyers in court in public in front of a judge.  He signed a Settlement Agreement, a Petition to Enter a Plea of Guilty, an Acknowledgement, and an Apology.  The judge accepted the Settlement Agreement, received the Petition and accepted Ashley's verbal plea of Guilty to one count of Sex Abuse in the 3rd Degree,  and received his Acknowledgement and Apology.

Ashley must report to the Benton County Sheriff and arrange to serve 3 days in physical custody in a jail under the direction of the Sheriff. 

Later still he must deliver a copy of the Acknowledgement and Apology to his "Bishop" and "Stake President" (local officials in the Mormon faith), and thereafter for the next 3 years he cannot be a law enforcement officer, or a judge, or participate in activities for young people.