Rodney A. Sitton

Blake Michael Sitton

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UPDATED: Blake Sitton told investigators his father accidentally shot himself while cleaning a rifle at his home, according to a probable cause affidavit written by Yamhill County Sheriff’s Detective Todd Steele. However, there was no gun cleaning equipment located inside the residence where the elder Sitton lived.

Yamhill-Carlton School Board Chairman Rodney Sitton, 50, died Tuesday afternoon of a gunshot wound to the head. His 24-year-old son was arraigned Thursday in circuit court by video on one count each of murder and unlawful use of a weapon. Murder is considered an unclassified felony and the weapon’s charge a Class C felony.

Deputy District Attorney Jayme Kimberly asked for a high bail amount, considering the charges, and she also said the defendant should be regarded as a community risk.

Judge Ronald Stone set bail at $2 million on the charges and $100,000 on three probation violations that resulted in Sitton initially being taken into custody while the shooting was being investigated.

McMinnville attorney Lori Coukoulis has been retained to represent Sitton, whom she has previously defended. Sitton will be back in court at 1:20 p.m. Thursday, at which time an indictment might have been returned.

See Saturday's print edition of the News-Register for additional details.

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CARLTON — The son of Yamhill-Carlton School Board Chair Rodney A. Sitton, who died Tuesday afternoon of a gunshot wound to the head, was charged today with murder in connection with the death. Yamhill County District Attorney Brad Berry identified him as Blake Michael Sitton, 24.

Also charged with unlawful use of a weapon, he was lodged in the Yamhill County Jail without bail. He was scheduled for arraignment in circuit court at 1:20 p.m. Thursday.

Sheriff's deputies and medical personnel were dispatched to the Sitton home at 6400 Pekkola Road in Carlton about 1:30 p.m.

The 50-year-old Sitton was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was transported to Macy & Son Funeral Directors in McMinnville.

The county's Major Crime Response Team responded to the residence to begin its investigation.

Blake Sitton was at home when law enforcement and medical personnel arrived, Berry said.

He remained at the residence until Tuesday night, when he was taken into custody on three probation violations. The underlying charges were two counts of second-degree criminal mischief and one count of fourth-degree assault.

"The investigation continued after he was taken into custody and it led to his arrest," Berry said. "But the investigation is continuing. This case isn't even 24 hours old."

Anyone with potentially relevant information is asked to call the sheriff's office Special Investigations Unit at 503-434-7506.

"This just sickens me," said Yamhill-Carlton School Superintendent Steve Chiovaro. "Rodney cared so much about him. He was a caring father."

Sitton's current four-year term was scheduled to run through June 30, 2011. Frank Kraaz, Vice-Chair Kevin Webb, Carol West and Rick Yeo make up remainder of the board.

The district has posted an announcement on its website. It reads in part:

"Our thoughts and collective prayers go out to his family and all the people of Yamhill County, who knew Rodney as a deeply loyal, caring, father and friend. As a long-time school board member, Rodney was known as a great champion of education. He always asked the district to 'Do what's best for kids' and spent countless hours trying to help the district find ways to maximize opportunities for the children we teach. Rodney will be deeply missed by this educational community."

Chiovaro said Sitton's seat will be declared vacant and the vacancy will be posted for 20 days. But he said Sitton's death had left a void impossible to fill.

"Rodney was a dear personal friend," Chiovaro said. "He is someone I respected dearly. He spent countless hours working on board issues, especially last spring, when we were going through huge budgetary issues.

"He was a strong force and advocate for fiscal responsibility. He was deeply loyal to the schools, students and staff."

Chiovaro said, "There were never any games with Rodney. He didn't know how to play games."