Ex-Reporter Accused Of Vandalizing Houses Of Worship Pleads Not Guilty

PORTLAND, OR — Michael Bivins, 34, the former reporter accused of attacking two synagogues and a mosque, made his fist appearance in Multnomah County District Monday, pleading not guilty to four attacks on the three houses of worship last week.

In addition to the charges of first-degree arson and criminal mischief that he already faced, Bivins was also hit with five counts of second-degree bias crime.

Circuit Court Judge Benjamin Johnston set bail at $45,000 – rejecting the prosecution request for $75.000 and the defense request for $5,000 – and ordered Bivins to stay at least 150 feet away from the mosque and synagogues.

Before Johnston could rule on bail, he'd had to convince Bivins to let the court-appointed defense lawyer handle his arraignment. Bivins had wanted to represent himself.

Johnston assured Bivins that he would still have that opportunity at a later date.

As of 7 p.m. Monday, Bivins was still being held at the Multnomah County Detention Center.

Portland police announced Saturday that Bivins was arrested around 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Court documents indicate that Bivins visited KPTV Wednesday and told a reporter that he was responsible for the attacks and wouldn't stop. When Bivins return Friday afternoon, he was arrested by Portland police with an assist from Beaverton police.

Bivins is charged in connection with four attacks:

• The April 30 attack in which a window was broken at Congregation Shir Tikvah at 2420 N.E. Sandy Blvd.
• The May 2 spraying of graffiti on an outside wall of Congregation Beth Israel at 1972 N.W. Flanders St.
• The May 3 fire set while people were inside the Muslim Community Center at 5325 N. Vancouver Ave.
• A second attack – on May 4 – at Congregation Beth Israel, one in which a rock was thrown through a window in the building's library.

Bivins, who had his name on about 20 Willamette Week stories from 2019 back ro 2016, developed a reputation for covering protests throughout Portland, often recording video and sharing it with local news outlets.

In recent months, his Twitter feed, has taken an angry turn with many Tweets referring to "the Biden Crime Family," as well as personal attacks on people such as Vice President Kamala Harris and Chelsea Clinton. He also tweeted that "Portland is turning into Mexico."

On April 15, he tweeted that Oregon should repeal bias or hate crime laws.

Two days later, he tweeted that Twitter had temporarily locked his account for violating their terms of service with a tweet about a death row inmate.

Biivins is due back in court on May 17.