The Oregonian

The case of former TV news director Jeff Alan Brent took another twist at his Monday morning sentencing when U.S. District Judge Garr King rejected the terms of the plea deal his lawyer reached with federal prosecutors.

“I’m very bothered by this case,” King said after the specifics were disclosed. The deal would have required Brent to serve a 15-month prison term, pay $35,212 in restitution and $10,000 in fines.

Declaring the sentence too lenient, while also acknowledging the limitations imposed by federal sentencing guidelines, King committed Brent to the longest possible jail term: 18 months. More…