Bend man pleads guilty to manslaughter in 2023 fatal shooting of Powell Butte man, sentenced to 18 years in prison

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – A Bend man charged with murder and manslaughter in the May 2023 fatal shooting of a Powell Butte man pleaded guilty to manslaughter Thursday in County Circuit Court Crook after a settlement conference and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Russell Votruba, 43, admitted to shooting Christopher Hoffman, 41, whose car he had stolen after the crime. He then engaged in a chase on Highway 97 north of Bend and shot himself multiple times after a pursuit intervention technique was used to stop his vehicle.

Votruba pleaded not guilty last fall to second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, unlawful use of a weapon, unauthorized use of a vehicle and felon in possession of a firearm. Court records show he pleaded guilty Thursday afternoon, after negotiations, to first-degree manslaughter with a firearm and felon in possession of a firearm.

Crook County Circuit Judge Annette Hillman's sentencing order said that while Votruba could receive credit for time served, he could not be considered for a reduced sentence, placement outside or temporary detention permission. He will face two years of post-prison supervision.

On the plea request form, Votruba wrote: “I recklessly caused the death of Chris Hoffman under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.” I used a gun.

Votruba also pleaded guilty Thursday to a Deschutes County charge of unlawful use of a weapon; five other charges, including DUII and reckless driving, were dismissed. He was sentenced to
five years in prison for this conviction, to be served concurrently with the sentence of manslaughter.

Hillman scheduled Thursday's settlement conference at a hearing in March. A confidential settlement conference memorandum was submitted a week ago, according to court records.

On May 7 of last year, Deschutes County 911 dispatchers received a call from a relative of the victim, saying he had received a call from a man later identified as Votruba who said he had killed a man in Hoffman's rented home on SW Red Cloud Road in Powell Butte, sheriff's deputies said. Hoffman's body was found at his home and deputies learned Votruba had stolen Hoffman's BMW SUV.

Votruba was spotted a short time later on Highway 97, heading north from Bend. Deschutes County Sheriff's deputies pursued the vehicle and spike strips were installed, deflating some tires. The pursuit hold technique was used to stop the vehicle, and deputies said Votruba quickly shot himself multiple times. He survived and was quickly transferred from St. Charles Bend to Prineville Prison.