A former Baker County man who pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree rape in Baker County in 2015 is trying to have new DNA testing that he contends would prove he is innocent.

Gene Sterling Taylor, 30, was sentenced to almost 17 years in prison in January 2015.

His earliest release date is May 8, 2031, according to the Oregon Department of Corrections. Taylor is incarcerated at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem.

Taylor’s first court hearing in his petition for DNA testing took place Friday morning, Feb. 28, Baker County Circuit Court.

Taylor participated by video from the penitentiary.

His attorney, Erik Eklund, of Portland, also joined by video, as did Judge Robert S. Raschio.

Greg Baxter, Baker County district attorney, was in the Baker County Courthouse for the hearing.

Baxter said he doesn’t have a position on Sterling’s motion, which Sterling filed in May 2024.

However, Baxter said he believes that Sterling’s motion does not meet all the requirements of a state law, ORS 138.692, that outlines the process for motions for additional DNA testing.

Eklund told the judge that he has not received a copy of files from Taylor’s previous defense attorney.

Raschio scheduled a status check hearing for May 23.

Eklund said he plans to file an amended motion on Sterling’s behalf.

Original motion

Sterling contends that DNA tests in the case “did not identify me to the degree required in a court of law.”

Taylor wrote that prior to his trial, police tested several samples. He contends that the only sample that definitely identified him came from a blanket in his home, an item “that would have been expected to have the petitioner’s DNA for benign reasons.”

Taylor contends that tests from samples taken from the victim did not have a high enough probability to conclusively identify him as the source of the DNA.

He argues that “proper testing” of those samples will exonerate him.