Story credit: Patrick Moore

May 2, 2025 4:00 a.m.

The News Review is reporting:

Wednesday morning in Coquille, four Coos County sheriff’s deputies wheeled Johnathan James Dowdy into a courtroom to face now-formal charges in the crash that claimed the lives of two members of the Umpqua Community College softball team and injured several others.

Dowdy, 32, of Coos Bay, was in a wheelchair as he heard the charges from Judge Matthew Muenchrath in Coos County Circuit Court.

Wednesday’s court appearance was initially scheduled to be a preliminary hearing but turned into an arraignment as a grand jury met Tuesday and returned a multi-count indictment, according to court records. The grand jury examined 11 witnesses including multiple police officers, at least one paramedic and a toxicologist from the Oregon State Police.

Dowdy’s indictment differs slightly from the crimes charged in his initial arrest by the Oregon State Police. In addition to two counts of first-degree manslaughter, he faces three counts of second-degree assault, eight counts of third-degree assault, nine counts of recklessly endangering another person. Additional charges include single counts of driving on a suspended license, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.

The indictment accuses Dowdy of recklessly causing the death of two victims, under circumstances of extreme indifference to the value of human life. The counts of second-degree assault accuse him of causing serious physical injuries to three victims under those same circumstances.

Dowdy remains jailed on a bail of $2 million, and Muenchrath set his next hearing for May 21.

Get the complete story by picking up a copy of Friday’s edition of The News Review.