DONALD BIGHAUS SENTENCED IN GRESHAM HIT-AND-RUN CASE

Multnomah Co. District Attorney's Office

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced today that a Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge sentenced Donald Troy Bighaus, 52, to 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree and one count of Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver. 

The charges stem from an incident on August 3, 2022, at Rosemary Anderson High School in Gresham. Bighaus and the victim encountered one another at the school and engaged in a physical fight. After the fight, Bighaus entered a vehicle and the victim began riding a bicycle away from Bighaus and the vehicle. Bighaus then reversed at a high rate of speed as the victim pedaled away, eventually catching up to him, striking him with the vehicle, and ultimately causing the victim’s death. 

Judge Christopher Marshall imposed the 19-year prison sentence Monday. Bighaus is currently in custody in Multnomah County and will be transported to the Oregon Department of Corrections to serve his sentence.

Deputy District Attorney Brandon Riffel prosecuted this case. The DA’s Office thanks the Gresham Police Department and the East County Major Crimes Team for their assistance with this case.