For nearly a year, Loran Beck was convinced he didn’t belong in an Oregon prison—even though the governor had sent him there. On Sept. 19, a Multnomah County judge agreed. After hearing Beck’s case, Judge Michael Greenlick ordered his immediate release, stating that Beck had already served eight months longer than legally required.
Beck, 46, is part of a growing group of inmates who have successfully challenged Gov. Tina Kotek in court and secured their freedom. Four people have won cases arguing that Kotek illegally extended their sentences by revoking their commuted sentences. Another case is pending.
This trend raises concerns among advocates for the incarcerated. They worry about how many others might be in prison under similar circumstances. During the pandemic, former Gov. Kate Brown commuted the sentences of over 1,000 prisoners. However, since taking office in 2023, Kotek has revoked at least 122 of these commutations, sending people back to prison. In cases like Beck’s, courts have ruled these actions unconstitutional.
Beck’s attorney, Malori Maloney of the Oregon Justice Resource Center, criticized the governor’s handling of these cases, saying, The governor should have corrected her error as soon as it became clear that their imprisonment was unlawful.
The governor’s office has remained largely silent on the matter. Spokesperson Roxy Mayer provided only a brief statement, noting that each case is reviewed individually and that the governor respects the court’s decision.
Beck’s legal troubles began in 2019 when he was convicted of felony aggravated theft and sentenced to 36 months in prison, followed by 24 months of supervision. In 2021, Brown commuted the final 11 months of his sentence, converting it to supervision. Beck was scheduled to complete his sentence in early 2024.
However, in June 2023, Beck was charged with assault. Although he was allowed to remain free while the case progressed, Kotek revoked his commutation, sending him back to prison in November 2023—just two months before his supervision period was set to end. Despite pleading to a minor assault charge, which required just 17 days in jail, Beck remained in prison for months.
Beck’s confusion and frustration grew as he tried to understand why he had been sent back to prison. He asked numerous officials for answers but was met with vague responses. In July, the Oregon Justice Resource Center took on his case, filing a petition that eventually led to his release.
Upon hearing the court’s ruling, Beck was overwhelmed with emotion. It moderately restored my faith in the justice system, he said. He was met with applause from his fellow inmates as he packed his belongings and left the prison within hours.
Though Beck is grateful for his release, adjusting to life outside has been challenging. He lost valuable tools while in prison, his motorcycle was stolen, and he’s now working part-time, unsure of what the future holds. He’s also considering leaving Oregon, feeling uneasy about his safety in a state where his freedom was taken so abruptly.
I just don’t feel safe here anymore, he said, contemplating a move far from the state he once called home.