.

On May 28, 2020, we published a story titled, “DOES THE ROAD LEAD TO ANTELOPE” where we reported following up on lead in the Antelope Oregon area that included the execution of a sealed search warrant.

.

Last October we reported the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office convened a Grand Jury to investigate and subpoena witnesses. We had an opportunity to interview some of the witnesses and have been in regular contact with one witness in particular.

.

In a March 8, 2021, we posted an UPDATE confirming that Troy Ernest Patrick, of Antelope Oregon was Indicted on “2 counts of arson 1” for the law office fire.

Patrick was officially Indicted by the Jefferson County Grand Jury on February 25, 2021 and like the search warrant, the Indictment has been sealed.

Patrick has been incarcerated since November 2020 at the Waco County Jail in The Dallas involving unrelated charges.

.

Last April we reported that the Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) is involved in the arson investigation and we later learned that DOJ attorney Collin D. Benson, a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Organized Crime Section is the assigned Special Prosecutor.

.

Yesterday, (9/9/21), Troy Patrick was scheduled to appear via Video link for his Status Hearing in Jefferson County Circuit Court before Judge Annette Hillman.

.

We were there-Patrick wasn’t.

.

Interestingly, Patrick declined to Appear and has refused to communicate with his defense attorney Dylan S R Potter. Judge Hillman, Mr. Potter and Mr. Benson discussed strategies to gain the cooperation of Troy Patrick and rescheduled another Status Hearing for October 7, 2021.

.

We reached out to Mr. Benson for a comment and he referred us to the DOJ Media Representative.

.

Ranch Matters Staff