John Day man convicted of weapons charges in shooting incident

Published 2:03 pm Monday, July 11, 2022

CANYON CITY — A John Day man has been convicted of multiple charges in connection with a May 25 incident in which he fired at least one shot at imaginary “intruders” he thought were trying to break into a garage at a house on Lower Yard Road.

There were no actual intruders and no one was hurt, according to law enforcement. Christopher Ryan Hoppe, 39, was taken into custody without further incident.

In a bench trial on Wednesday, July 6, in Grant County Circuit Court, Judge Robert F. Nichols found Hoppe guilty of three counts of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of felon in possession of a restricted weapon (brass knuckles) and one count of third-degree criminal mischief (for damaging a door).

The judge found Hoppe not guilty on two counts of recklessly endangering another person, and Hoppe was acquitted of three counts of first-degree theft.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Aug. 11 in Grant County Circuit Court.