Bail Denied for Poker Room Shooter

A man accused of discharging a firearm inside a casino in Montana last month has been denied bail.

Carroll L. Mayfield, 66, of Sandy looked like a harmless grandfather when he appeared before Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Angel Lopez for his bail/release hearing Monday, March 8.

The judge deemed Mayfield “not stable enough” for release and denied his request for reduced bail.

“This is a very difficult decision,” Lopez said, citing the defendant’s lack of criminal history coupled with a wealth of support from 15 friends and relatives in the crowded courtroom.

“On the other hand, we have people who are suffering in the courtroom today,” Lopez said, looking at Richard Gilbertson, his left hand and forearm permanently damaged by a bullet Mayfield allegedly fired, and at Angela Chapman, wife of Jason Chapman, who remains in intensive care at a local hospital more than a month after the shooting.

“What is troubling to me is nobody’s been able to explain what happened that night,” Lopez said. And that makes it impossible to prevent it from happening again, he said.

Standing just outside the open front doors of the Gresham Players Club at 106 N. Main Ave., at about 10:40 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, Mayfield allegedly fired a gun at seven poker players sitting around a back table. One Gresham man was hit in the chest. Another bullet hit another Gresham man in the left arm.

Police arrested Mayfield minutes later a few blocks away. They called the shooting a random act of violence, adding there’s no indication he knew the victims.

During Monday’s hearing, people who know and love Mayfield say the shooting is out of character for such a kind, gentle man.

“There’s something wrong somewhere,” said Jerry Craig, a former police officer who’s known Mayfield for 41 years. His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren call Mayfield Uncle Carroll, Craig testified.

“If you knew him the way I do, you’d look at him and say, ‘What happened?’ ” Craig said, looking at shooting victim Gilbertson, sitting in the front row, his hand and arm in a contraption designed to keep the damaged muscles from further atrophy. “It’s totally out of his character. … It doesn’t make sense him shooting anyone. He just doesn’t do that kind of thing. … It’s just not Carroll. There had to be something else going on.”

Grant Baughman said Mayfield is like a best friend and a father to him.

“He would never intentionally hurt anyone,” he said.

Baughman was with Mayfield up until five or 10 minutes before the shooting. He didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary with Mayfield that night. Mayfield didn’t appear agitated or upset about anything. In short, there were no triggers to explain why he allegedly opened fire on a group of poker players.

Court documents indicate that Mayfield told police he was the victim of an attempted robbery and had been drinking that night.

Chapman has undergone 20 surgeries and remains in intensive care after being shot in the chest that night, his wife Angela told the judge. His chest and abdomen are riddled with bullet fragments and he’s been tormented by hallucinations.

“He’s just not the same,” Angela said.

As the co-owner of Corbett-based DWC Gutters, Chapman doesn’t have medical insurance. His hospital bill as of late last week topped $800,000.

As for Mayfield’s request for reduced bail, Angela Chapman told the judge, “It wouldn’t be fair to let him out.” Besides, with Mayfield living just five to 10 minutes from her home, she’d fear for her safety.

In a prepared statement read by prosecuting attorney Chris Mascal, Gilbertson said, “The crazy randomness of Carroll Mayfield’s actions is the reason he should never be released.”
He also said he keeps hearing about what a great person Mayfield is. But that’s little comfort to him as he struggles to hold his wife’s hand. Or when he goes all day with untied shoelaces, waiting for his wife to come home from work and tie them for him.

On the flipside, it is Mayfield who helps his wife of 39 years with such challenges. Charise Mayfield was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 20 years ago and used a walker to get to the witness stand during Monday’s hearing. When asked what she could afford to post for bail, she replied, “Maybe 15,” as in $15,000.

The couple lives off Social Security and their IRAs, each worth an estimated $100,000. Due to multiple refinances, a second mortgage and declining property values, they are upside down on their $170,000 home. Other than that, the only assets to speak of are 5 acres on a hill near Billy Chinook that he owns with two friends, a pickup truck, motorcycle and his guns, which have since been removed from the home.

If Mayfield had been released, he likely would have been confined to his home and property until his trial. An ankle bracelet and a global positioning unit on his hip would have monitored his movements. An alcohol-monitoring unit would have been placed in his home with the requirement that he undergo random breath tests throughout the day.

And if the monitors indicated Mayfield was not complying with the conditions of his release, how long would it take his release supervisor of get to Mayfield’s Sandy home? Between 30 and 45 minutes.

“That’s too long,” Angela Chapman whispered from her seat.

Judge Lopez then denied Mayfield’s request.

“Given the circumstances, it’s the only thing I can do,” Lopez said.

With that a sheriff’s deputy placed Mayfield’s’ hands behind his back, cuffed him and led the gray haired man out of the courtroom.

News Added: 09 March, 2010

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