HILLSBORO, Ore.- On September 8, 2022, a Washington County jury found Brian Daniel Bement guilty of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree robbery, and felon in possession of a firearm. On September 13, 2022, Judge Eric Butterfield sentenced the defendant to life in prison without the possibility of parole and ordered he pay a $20,000 fine to the victim's estate.  Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeff Lesowski and Senior Deputy District Attorney Jeff MacLean prosecuted the case. 

On March 13, 2010, the defendant shot and killed the victim, Dr. David Greenspan, in a car parked at a cemetery just outside of Cornelius, Oregon. Investigators later learned that Mr. Bement ran an illicit drug-dealing business in Portland, and that the victim, who struggled with substance abuse issues at the time, had lent money to the defendant. Detectives determined financial and business disputes were motives for the killing, and that Bement took approximately $30,000 cash belonging to Mr. Greenspan after the shooting.

Mr. Bement was originally convicted of this murder in 2012 but the case was reversed by the Oregon Court of Appeals which ruled the original judge should have admitted more of the victim’s emails during the original trial. 

“By all accounts, Dr. Greenspan was a kind person who developed issues due to his addiction to drugs. He became involved with the wrong person and paid with his life” said DDA MacLean.  “The DA’s office never lost confidence in the defendant’s guilt.”

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office acknowledges the work of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Beaverton Police Department, and the Tigard Police Department on this case. This office also commends the cooperation of the various witnesses and law enforcement officials who aided in this trial.