Salem, OR – May 26, 2026 – On Friday, May 22, Marion County Circuit Court Judge Courtland Geyer sentenced Christopher Lee Pray, 41, to 57 months in the Oregon Department of Corrections following his guilty plea to Escape in the First Degree and Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle. The sentence will run concurrent to the 22-year sentence Pray is currently serving in Multnomah County on unrelated cases.
The conviction stems from an August 30, 2023, incident in which the Oregon State Hospital (OSH) notified the Oregon State Police (OSP) that Pray had escaped custody and stealing a state-owned vehicle. Earlier that day, Pray had been transferred to OSH pursuant to a court order related to pending Multnomah County proceedings.
Later that day, while in the OSH cafeteria, Pray became involved in an altercation with another patient and sustained a lip injury requiring sutures, necessitating a trip to Salem Health. Two OSH staff members accompanied Pray to Salem Health in a state issued vehicle and remained with him while he received medical care at Salem Health.
Upon returning to OSH, while staff were attempting to escort Pray from the vehicle, he unbuckled himself and jumped into the driver’s seat. The key was left in the ignition when the OSH staff member exited the vehicle to assist the defendant in exiting the vehicle. Pray accelerated, causing the staff member to be thrown from the vehicle and sustain minor injuries.
Two days later Pray was located by Portland emergency responders after becoming stranded in a muddy area and was subsequently arrested.
Deputy District Attorney David Wilson represented the State in this case. The Marion County District Attorney’s Office wishes to thank the Oregon State Police for their thorough investigatory work.
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