Newman arraigned in suicide case; Judge sets bail at $1,000

By Tom Peterson 

A local man is being held on $1,000 bail after being arraigned today, May 19, on a charge of second-degree manslaughter in connection with the suicide of 29-year-old Alexandra Shea Cagle.

29-year-old Alex Cagle

Newman allegedly helped Cagle of Olympia, Wash., rent a pickup and purchase a combustion water pump - the elements she used to commit suicide through carbon monoxide poisoning.

Teenagers found Cagle in the U-Haul pickup in the parking lot of The Dalles First United Methodist Church on 11th Street near The Dalles High School on March 27 - approximately two days after her death. Newman’s house is at 500 E. 11th Street - or about 700 feet away from where the rental truck was parked, according to Cagle’s family.  

During the arraignment, additional details about Newman’s relationship with Cagle were revealed so that Wasco County Circuit Court Judge John Olson could decide on a bail amount to ensure that Newman would return to court and not flee from prosecution.  

Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis told the judge that Newman and Cagle met at Route 30 earlier this year and he provided her dinner, clothes, shopping and financial assistance.

He also said Newman dropped her off and picked her up from Unity Center for Behavioral Health in Portland in the days before she died. 

And, Ellis said the pair shared texts about the Massachusetts case where a 17-year-old girl encouraged her boyfriend to go through with his own suicide using a similar pump in the cab of a pickup.

Ellis said there was evidence of Newman going to Coastal Farm and Ranch to buy the water pump with Cagle. He said Newman filled the pump with gas, showed her how to start it. He said Newman said he did not believe there was enough oil in it for it to run. 

Earlier in the arraignment, Judge Olson told Newman that second-degree manslaughter was punishable by up to 10 years in prison with a maximum fine of $250,000. He also said it was a Measure 11 crime, that draws a mandatory prison sentence of 75 months if he is convicted. 

Olson then asked him if he needed a state-appointed attorney.

“Yes, please,” Newman said, stating his income was $1,118 per month. 

Defense attorney Sean Pank took the case and requested a plea date before bail was set. 

DA Ellis told the Judge that Newman had no criminal history and had local ties to The Dalles. He had only a “small concern” of Newman fleeing before his next court date.  

Pank told the judge that Newman was retired from the U.S. Air Force and did not have a lot of finances at this time and he had lived in The Dalles most of his life, graduating from The Dalles High School. He requested Newman be granted a conditional release or one set at $500.

Alexandra and Katie Cagle

Cagle’s family also was given the chance to speak to the judge. Cagle’s sister Katie told Olson that Newman had the wherewithal to pay bail, stating that he had paid for a dinner with her sister the night before she died at a cost of $100. 

She also pointed out that Newman had the deed to his home in The Dalles, giving him the finances to make bail. 

“I would ask that he be remanded to jail without bail given the nature of the crime,” she said.  

Olson, after taking all the information under consideration, set the bail amount at $1,000.

“I understand why you're concerned about the situation,” he said. “…$500 is inappropriate given the nature of the charge - to some extent, I agree.” 

He also said Newman’s lack of criminal history and his time in The Dalles pointed to a lower bail amount.

Olson set Newman’s next court hearing for May 24 if he remains in jail and for June 5 if he is able to finance his release.

Read CCCNew’s original story about the case by clicking here.