Shane Hall released on electronic monitoring

Shane Hall, a former Sisters pastor accused of sexual abuse of a minor, was released on Thursday, March 9, after spending three weeks in jail on allegations that he drank alcohol in violation of his conditions of release.

Witnesses who said they saw Hall drinking beer at Bronco Billy’s Ranch Grill & Saloon in Sisters on February 11 reportedly changed their minds after seeing Hall led into the courtroom for a hearing on revocation of his original release.

According to Assistant District Attorney Victoria Roe, “Apparently the person they saw was much taller and looked very similar to Mr. Hall.” The witnesses concluded that “they made an honest mistake,” Roe told the court.

In light of that mistake, the state and Hall’s attorney John Halpern, Jr. of Eugene, agreed that Hall may be released from jail with electronic monitoring and a 6 p.m. curfew. He must remain at his residence from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Hall was originally given a conditional release from custody after his arraignment on charges that he sexually abused a minor. He was arrested on those charges on December 23 and was released on $30,000 bond against $300,000 bail.

Hall cannot attend church or go anywhere else where children congregate. He is not to drink alcohol or frequent bars because, the District Attorney claims, he was intoxicated at the time the offenses of which he is accused allegedly occurred.

Roe noted that Oregon State Police troopers who served a search warrant on Hall’s residence on February 17 in an investigation of game violations allegedly “smelled alcohol on the defendant” and found open and unopened containers of beer in and around the premises. The officers took Hall into custody on that day on the release violation accusation.

Hall reportedly declined to take a breath test when he was brought into jail.

“The state is concerned about the defendant having access to alcohol and consuming the alcohol,” Roe said.

Judge Michael Sullivan assigned Hall to a chemical dependency evaluation, saying, “I don’t know if you have a problem or not but we’ll let the professionals determine that.”

Members of Hall’s family and several friends attended the March 9 hearing and expressed satisfaction with the outcome. Family members and friends came to the hearing prepared to testify that Hall was at his sister Cheurise Rhoades’ house in La Pine on February 11.

Rhoades viewed the outcome as vindication.

“My reaction right now is that the truth is going to prevail and we are going to prove the truth every time we go into the court,” Rhoades said. “This is just the beginning of his innocence.”

Hall’s mother Sue was tearful.

“I’m just thankful, so thankful that the witnesses told the truth,” she said. “It’s a great day; a great beginning.”

Hall’s bond money has been held under a lien against back child support. The District Attorney’s office confirmed that Judge Sullivan signed an order on February 16 placing the hold on the bond money after a motion was filed by the Department of Justice, Division of Child Support, on January 31.

Hall is also facing hearings on charges related to a complaint of menacing, stalking and telephonic harassment. A consolidated hearing on several cases is scheduled for April 24.