Chelsey Moore (Deschutes County Sheriff's Office).
An Oregon woman claims she was forced at gunpoint to hack off a man's finger with a saw and tattoo derogatory language across his forehead against his will, according to her lawyer.
Chelsey Moore, 38, "is also a victim," according to her court appointed lawyer, Aaron Bishow, who made the claim during a Wednesday court hearing, The Bulletin reports.
"I don't even know why she's in jail," Bishow said.
He reportedly told the court that Moore was staring down a gun when she was allegedly made to participate in kidnapping the victim on Aug. 12 and mutilating him. Bishow accused Moore's alleged coconspirator, Efram Palafox, 41, of forcing her to participate, according to The Bulletin.
Prosecutors told the court Wednesday that they have evidence showing Moore's involvement and alleged plans to execute the attack. They said Moore was not forced to cut off the victim's finger, nor was she forced to tattoo derogatory language across his forehead.
Palafox was caught on surveillance video forcing the victim to leave a local hospital against his will around 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 11, Your Oregon News reports. Police received information that the man was later tied to a tree by Palafox and Moore in an area southeast of Redmond and one of his fingers had been removed.
The man was later located on Aug. 12 walking on the road near Deschutes Pet Lodge with injuries and was transported to St. Charles in Bend for medical assistance.
Moore and Palafox have both been charged with first-degree kidnapping, assault, menacing, and unlawful use of a weapon. Bishow told the court that Moore has a brain tumor that will need to be treated at a local medical center that she is allowed to travel to later this month, The Bulletin reports.
Moore is due back in court on Oct. 7.
