Defense fund set up for teacher accused in shooting
Camas man a suspect in death of man in Gifford-Pinchot forest
Friday, November 21 | 9:44 p.m.
BY TOM VOGT
COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER
Craig A. Sjoberg Students’ parents raising funds
Parents of local middle school students have established a fund to help a teacher who is facing manslaughter charges.
Rick Dye, whose son attends Shahala Middle School, said the fund has been set up to assist in the defense of Craig A. Sjoberg.
Contributions can be made at any branch of U.S. Bank, to the Craig A. Sjoberg Defense Fund.
Dye said he was at the Evergreen district school on Friday afternoon and everyone he met was concerned about Sjoberg, who is in the Skamania County Jail on suspicion of first-degree manslaughter.
“We’ve all been touched by what he’s done for our children,” Dye said.
Sjoberg is suspected in the death of a man who was found shot in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest on Nov. 1, the first day of elk hunting season. The shooting victim, Juan Cortez Rojas, was working as a bear grass picker.
However the case plays out, Sjoberg deserves to be represented in what shapes up as an expensive process, Dye said.
The math teacher regularly gave his son extra help, Dye said, and said that Sjoberg made “a pivotal difference in my son going forward.”
Sjoberg, who resides in Camas, is scheduled to be formally charged Monday at arraignment.
by L. Frances : 11/21/08 9:31pm - Report Abuse
This entire incident is a tragedy for everyone directly involved. It's obvious it was an accident, the degree of recklessness is yet to be determined. However, why does the Columbian consider it necessary to include a large copy of the booking mug shot with every update of the story? This serves no purpose other than sensationalism.