Judge Sends Huntington Man Accused in Durkee Robbery to State Hospital

A Baker County judge has ordered that 37-year-old Justin Dean Bridwell of Huntington be transferred from the Baker County Jail to the Oregon State Hospital in Salem for a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether he can assist in his defense in a first-degree robbery prosecution that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years, six months.

The transfer order follows a probable-cause affidavit by an investigator identified only as Rilee, which says that at about 8:20 a.m. on Feb. 23, 2025 Bryan Boswell of Express Road in Durkee called 911 to report he had been robbed at gunpoint. Boswell told investigators two adult men entered his trailer, said they were taking two vehicles and then left in a Honda Accord, while a Chrysler Sebring’s keys were also taken. Boswell identified Bridwell as one of the men and said the cars and keys belonged to the late James Crawford, who lived on the property.

Bridwell was arrested in February 2025 and a grand jury returned an indictment in late February 2025 charging him with four felonies and one misdemeanor, the most serious count being first-degree robbery. Defense attorney Damien Yervasi filed a notice on Feb. 3, 2026 stating he “has concerns about whether (Bridwell) is presently unfit to proceed in this matter by reason of incapacity.” The judge’s order sends Bridwell to the state hospital for a competency evaluation that will determine whether criminal proceedings resume or are paused pending treatment.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Spaulding is handling the prosecution. Spaulding said there is not enough corroboration at this time to arrest the man Boswell identified as Bridwell’s alleged accomplice, who reportedly brandished a gun and threatened to kill the resident during the incident. That second suspect remains uncharged and at large as investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the vehicle removals and the property taken from Boswell’s trailer and mailbox.

Several court and investigative details remain unresolved. Court filings available to date do not disclose the name of the judge who signed the transfer order or the exact date the order was entered. The probable-cause affidavit is credited to “Rilee” without a full name or title in the public record, and the exact arrest date for Bridwell in February 2025 has not been posted to the court docket. It is also not clear whether the Chrysler Sebring or the Honda Accord have been recovered.

The outcome of the competency evaluation at Oregon State Hospital in Salem will determine when and how the Baker County Circuit Court proceeds on the indictment that includes the first-degree robbery charge and the associated mandatory minimum. Residents on Express Road in Durkee and others tied to the late James Crawford await further developments as prosecutors weigh additional action against the alleged accomplice.