A 31-year-old Oregon woman named Ashlie Clark was just sentenced for her shocking assault of a security guard when trying to shoplift from a Nordstrom: she was caught stealing and bit off the earlobe of the security guard that tried to stop her. She was sentenced to 70 months, nearly six years, for the offense.
The Washington County, Oregon District Attorney announced her pleading guilty and described her offense in a press release on March 24th, saying:
Ashlie Ruth Clark, age 31, pleaded guilty to Assault in the Second Degree and Attempted Robbery in the First Degree on Friday, March 24, 2023, at the Washington County Courthouse. Senior Judge John Collins sentenced Clark to 70 months in prison, followed by three years of post-prison supervision. Senior Deputy District Attorney Allison Brown prosecuted the case.
On July 22, 2022, Clark shoplifted over $800 worth of merchandise from Nordstrom at the Washington Square Mall in Tigard. As she exited the store without paying for the merchandise, loss prevention officers confronted her with the theft. She physically resisted and yelled obscene comments as they attempted to recover the stolen items. During the struggle, she bit the earlobe of the one of the loss prevention officers, removing at least a half inch of the victim’s earlobe.
Clark was arrested by the Tigard Police Department. She provided a false name and date of birth to the law enforcement officers and had two outstanding warrants for her arrest. The victim went to the hospital and her earlobe could not be surgically reattached.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office acknowledges the work of the Tigard Police Department, and the Nordstrom loss prevention team and Washington Square Mall security for their assistance in this investigation. The defendant will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin her sentence.
Clark will now be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to serve her sentence. After she serves her 70 months, she will then have to undergo three years of post-prison supervision.
The same DA’s office that prosecuted Clark has taken an open stand against current Oregon law surrounding retail crime, publishing a press release in which it calls for changing the law to combat such crimes. In that press release, the office says:
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office joins the Oregon Organized Retail Crime Task Force in calling for the passage of Senate Bills 318 and 370 to address increasing retail crime in Oregon.
The Oregon Organized Retail Crime Task Force is a collection of key stakeholders, including Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton, who have met over the past six months to discuss ways to address the growing problem of organized retail crime in Oregon. Task force members include law enforcement leaders along with business and labor leaders.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office is proud to support the passing of Senate Bills 318 and 340. These two bills, taken together, provide funding for increased enforcement and better communication between Oregon’s Department of Justice, local police departments, and retailers. The bill also fixes gaps in Oregon’s current criminal code, making it easier to prosecute criminal organizations involved in organized retail theft.
“I am keenly aware of the challenges Oregon faces from increased organized retail crime,” said Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton. “Retail theft impacts all members of our community, including both large and small businesses and employees and customers alike. As the nature and scope of these crimes change, so to must our laws evolve, which is why passage of SB 318 and 340 is important.”
Featured image credit: Washington County, Oregon District Attorney’s Office
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