Career
A former member of the United States Marine Corps, [2] Strebendt is known for being the first student of the now world-renowned Brazilian Jiu-jitsu practitioner, Eddie Bravo where he adopted Eddie's rubber guard, and twister game. In 2004 he became the first fighter to execute a twister in an MMA match.
Strebendt was a key witness in the 2005 murder trial of Rafiel Torre. [2] Torre, whose real name is Ralph Bartel, initially offered Strebendt $10,000 to kill the victim, 32-year-old Bryan Richards, who had a sizable life insurance policy and with whose wife Torre was having an affair. [2] After Strebendt refused, Torre committed the murder himself, then told Strebendt a few days later that he had killed Richards in self-defense with a rear naked choke. [2] Torre asked Strebendt to provide him with an alibi, a request which was met with Strebendt's refusal. [2] More than a year after the killing, Strebendt voluntarily came forward and provided his story to detectives, out of concern that Torre would escape punishment for the murder. [2] Torre was convicted of the murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole; he is appealing the sentence.
On January 29, 2014, Strebendt shot and killed 53-year-old David Paul Crofut, also of Springfield, during an altercation following a traffic collision between the two drivers' vehicles. [4] Strebendt called 911 following the collision but before shooting Crofut and was still connected with the 911 call when the shot was fired. [5] Strebendt claims self-defense in the shooting; Strebendt's attorney, Mike Arnold of Eugene, states that Strebendt reached into his vehicle and retrieved his weapon, a loaded .223 caliber semi-automatic rifle, because Crofut verbally threatened his life. [5] Carrying a loaded rifle in a vehicle is legal in Oregon. [6] Crofut was unarmed during the altercation, and no weapons other than Strebendt's rifle were found at the scene. [7] Following the shooting, Strebendt was handcuffed and taken into custody, but was released later that night. [5] According to Strebendt on the 911 call, Crofut hit him "on purpose with his vehicle." [8] Strebendt can be heard on the 911 call instructing Crofut to "back away" and "don't fucking come near me." [8] At the time of his death, Crofut had a blood alcohol content of 0.156%. [9] The legal limit for driving under the influence of alcohol in Oregon is 0.08%. [10]
Strebendt was arrested and charged with murder on March 6, 2014, after a grand jury indictment. [11] On May 21, 2015, the murder charge was dismissed and Strebendt pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide due to police establishing "some mitigating evidence" favoring Strebendt. [9] His attorney Mike Arnold and co-counsel Emilia Gardner went on to write a book about Strebendt and the case called Finishing Machine. [12] He was released from state prison in 2017. [13]
Eight months after his release from prison, Strebendt was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing an underage female on April 25, 2018. [14] He was later sentenced by courts in Lane County, OR to two years and four months in prison with two years and eight months of probation. [15]
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