Published 10:23 am Tuesday, October 27, 2026

The Indian-born man charged with manslaughter for a fatal Highway 20 crash in 2025 will remain in Deschutes County Jail until his January trial, Deschutes County Circuit Court Judge Wells Ashby ruled on Monday afternoon.

Rajinder Kumar, 32, was brought back into Deschutes County custody Oct. 15 after residing in ICE custody since April at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Wash.

Ashby said if bail was lowered from $1 million and Kumar posted it, he believed Kumar would be picked up again by federal immigration officers. Kumar has a deportation order against him, signed in July.

“The court has a job to do and immigration has a job to do,” said Ashby. “It’s important to the court that this case proceeds to its conclusion. It’s important for the families of the victims and Mr. Kumar …. If Mr.…