PORTLAND, Ore. – After nearly three years of abuse, stalking, and attempted murder, a man was sentenced to 50 years in jail, according to officials.
According to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, Michael Panarites was sentenced to 50 years in prison after being found guilty of 23 crimes ranging from harassment and stalking to rape and solicitation of murder.
According to officials, Panarites’ crimes began at least in December 2020 and continued until his arrest in May 2023, during which time he physically, sexually, and psychologically assaulted his victim, a previous partner with whom he had a kid.
Panarites lived in the victim’s home until July 2022, sexually and physically assaulting her until she fled and secured a restraining order, police said.
Despite the restraining order, officials said Panarites continued to harass her, hiring a private investigator and installing various tracking devices on her vehicle to monitor her. He also tried to persuade his parents to assist him kill his victim and her mother.
The first time Panarites was challenged by authorities, they claimed he ran and crossed state borders, obtaining multiple stolen firearms and other weapons.
Eventually, on May 29, 2023, Portland police stopped Panarites’ car owing to stolen license plates.
Police stated they discovered over 100 rounds of ammunition, multiple filled magazines, a stolen rifle, a machete, an axe, a crossbow and bolts, as well as various stolen license plates. They also stated that he had a handcuff key on his car keys.
Police claimed he had revealed to his parents all of the items he planned to use to murder the victim and others.
In February, Panarites was found guilty of 23 crimes, including attempt to commit any degree of murder or aggravated murder, solicitation of murder, stalking, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, six counts of illegal use of a global positioning system device, harassment, second-degree criminal mischief, two counts of coercion, fourth-degree assault, harassment, three counts of first-degree sodomy, two counts of first-degree rape, and first-degree unlawful sex.
On May 8, Panarites was sentenced, with the judge stating that his “long, continuous course of conduct,” which included terrorising his victim in every manner conceivable, contributed to his lengthy sentence.
Reference: Oregon man receives 50-year sentence for abuse and stalking of ex-partner
