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Published 1:18 pm Monday, November 2, 2026
BAKER CITY — A Baker City man accused of raping a 15-year-old girl numerous times in 2024 has a new attorney who has filed a motion asking a judge to delay a settlement conference scheduled for Nov. 13.
Eric Vincent Swanlund, 43, was arrested April 23, 2026.
A Baker County grand jury on April 30 indicted Swanlund on 38 counts, including four counts of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct. That’s a Measure 11 offense in Oregon that on conviction carries a mandatory minimum prison term of five years and 10 months for each count. The grand jury also indicted Swanlund on seven counts of third-degree rape, seven counts of third-degree sodomy and seven counts of third-degree sexual abuse.
Swanlund, who had been in the jail since his arrest, posted $56,000 — 10% of his $565,000 bail — in early September and was given a conditional release on Sept. 3.
Swanlund’s first attorney, Damien Yervasi of Baker City, had asked Judge Matt Shirtcliff to reduce Swanlund’s bail, but Shirtcliff, after a hearing Sept. 1, declined to do so.
On Oct. 16, attorney John D. Knodell of Salem filed a notice in Baker County Circuit Court that he is replacing Yervasi as Swanlund’s attorney.
On Oct. 29, Knodell filed a motion seeking to delay the Nov. 13 settlement conference.
In his motion, Knodell wrote that “I believe this is a complex case and for me to adequately represent the defendant, I need additional time to receive and review all of the police reports and go over them with the defendant.”
Baker County District Attorney Greg Baxter said he didn’t object to Knodell’s request to reschedule the settlement conference.
Shirtcliff, as of Monday, Nov. 2, had not set a new date. Knodell in his motion suggested seven different days in December for the settlement conference.
A status check hearing in the case is scheduled for Feb. 9, 2027, and Swanlund is scheduled to go to trial on March 23.
On Sept. 23, another judge, Bethany P. Flint, granted a motion allowing Swanlund to move with his mother to Lane County. The release agreement requires Swanlund to check in daily by phone with Baker County release officer, and continues other conditions including that he not have any contact with the alleged victim or any minors. Swanlund must also attend in person any court hearings in Baker City.
Swanlund waived his right to a speedy trial (within 60 days of charges being filed) on May 11.
Baxter said that because the victim was older than 14 at the time of the alleged crimes, he can’t charge Swanlund with some other Measure 11 crimes. The maximum age of the victim to pursue second-degree rape is 13, and the maximum age for a first-degree rape charge is 11, Baxter said.
According to a press release from the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, the agency started investigating in March after receiving a report about Swanlund, a local contractor.
Jayson has worked at the Baker City Herald since November 1992, starting as a reporter. He has been editor since December 2007. He graduated from the University of Oregon Journalism School in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in news-editorial journalism.