Baker City rape case moves ahead after defendant waives speedy trial

Eric Vincent Swanlund’s rape case will not be forced onto Oregon’s fastest trial track after he gave up his right to be tried within 60 days, keeping the 43-year-old in the Baker County Jail while the case continues through Baker County Circuit Court.

Swanlund made the waiver during a brief hearing before Judge Matt Shirtcliff on May 11. Under Oregon law, a defendant in custody is generally entitled to trial within 60 days of arrest unless the defendant agrees to a continuance, so Swanlund’s decision removed that deadline from the case for now.

The underlying complaint is broad and serious. The Baker County District Attorney’s Office charged Swanlund with 10 counts of third-degree rape, 10 counts of third-degree sodomy, 10 counts of third-degree sexual abuse, one count of second-degree online corruption of a child, one count of coercion and one count of strangulation. The case centers on allegations that he raped a 15-year-old girl several times in 2024.

Swanlund was arrested by the Baker County Sheriff’s Office on April 23 at about 4:15 p.m. Deputies took him to the Baker County Jail, and he was arraigned the next afternoon, April 24, in Baker County Circuit Court. Judge Shirtcliff then raised his bail on May 1 from $600,000 to $750,000. Under Oregon’s security-release rules, a defendant released on that amount would generally need to post a 10 percent deposit, or $75,000, if otherwise eligible.

The speedy-trial waiver does not change the charges, but it does stretch the timeline of a case that already carries major stakes for the alleged victim, the defendant and public safety in Baker County. More time before trial can give attorneys room to review evidence, evaluate witness statements and prepare motions, but it also means the case will remain active on the court’s docket beyond the standard custody window. For a local court handling allegations involving a juvenile victim and multiple felony counts, the procedural move delays resolution while Swanlund remains incarcerated and the community waits for the next phase of the case.