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Oregon National Guard host 2024 Labor Summit in Salem (Photo)
SALEM, Ore. - The Oregon National Guard hosted the 2024 Labor Summit at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Salem, Oregon, on November 14, 2024. Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General, Oregon, along with senior leaders and service members from both the Oregon Army and Air National Guard took part in presentations and hands on demonstrations, highlighting jobs, skills and benefits that the National Guard offers to employers in the local business community. The event consisted of various
Humane Society Animal Abandonment
RELEASE DATE: November 15, 2024INCIDENT: Animal Abandonment INCIDENT DATE: November 14th, 2024 REPORTING DEPUTY: Josephine County Animal ControlARRESTED: Jedediah Wytcherley and Harmony WytcherleyCHARGES: 1- Animal Abandonment 2 - Animal Neglect IIDETAILS: On August 8th, 2024, Josephine County Animal Control received a call about 36 cats being abandoned at one of the gates at Rogue Valley Humane Society. The cats were left without adequate shelter, food, or water.
Coos Bay Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting a Minor
EUGENE, Ore.—A Coos Bay, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for taking sexually explicit images of a minor.Willard Verdell Cowan, 61, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. According to court documents, beginning in early 2021, Cowan offered to talk with a minor who often suffered from panic attacks. Instead, he preyed on the victim’s vulnerability by providing alcohol and marijuana before sexually assaulting the victim.
Eugene Man Pleads Guilty to Three Federal Hate Crimes for Defacing Synagogue
EUGENE, Ore.—A Eugene man pleaded guilty to three federal hate crimes today for intentionally defacing a Eugene synagogue on multiple occasions.Adam Edward Braun, 34, pleaded guilty to two counts of intentionally defacing a synagogue and one count of attempting to deface religious property because it was a place of religious worship for Jewish people.According to court documents, between September 2023 and January 2024, Braun intentionally defaced Temple Beth Israel, a Jewish synagogue in Eugene
Oregon National Guard takes part in Veterans Day Events and Celebrations (Photo)
SALEM, Ore. - The Oregon National Guard participated in various ceremonies and events around the state on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, to honor those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, The Adjutant General of Oregon, took part in the 73rd Annual Linn County Veterans Day Parade, watching the annual celebration from the Reviewing Stand, in downtown Albany, Oregon. On Nov. 9, Brig. Gronewold attend the Veteran's Day banquet also held in Albany, f
Youth Search and Rescue Team Trains with National Guard Helicopter Crew (Photo)
TROUTDALE, Ore. — High school students from one of Oregon's oldest search and rescue programs became acquainted Saturday as they trained alongside an Oregon Army National Guard helicopter crew at Rooster Rock State Park.The training brought together 32 members of the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue (MCSO SAR) team with a National Guard HH-60M helicopter crew to practice aerial extraction techniques — critical skills for rescuing injured hikers in the county's challenging terr
Former Police Officer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Child Pornography
PORTLAND, Ore.—A former police officer from Pendleton, Oregon was sentenced to federal prison today for possessing child pornography on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.Cameron Jacob Sheoships, 57, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. Sheoships’ sentencing follows a prior guilty plea that included a pattern enhancement for his repeated sexual abuse of a minor beginning in the 1990s.According to court documents, in August 2022, the FBI received a tip tha
Madras Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Methamphetamine
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Madras, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Jefferson County, Oregon. Wyatt Franklin Powell, 61, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. According to court documents, on October 28, 2023, a Warm Springs Police Department (WSPD) officer responded to a report of erratic driving. During the traffic stop, the officer smelle
Eugene Man Indicted for Posting Violent Threats Online
PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment Tuesday charging a Eugene, Oregon man with posting violent threats online, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.Jeffrey Allen Voss, 31, has been charged with transmitting interstate threats and attempting to tamper with evidence.According to court documents, between September 24 and 27, 2024, Voss is alleged to have posted several videos of himself online making violent threats, including two in whi
Missing Person: Megan Wells
Date of Report: 11/05/2024Case #: 24-26358Name: Megan Yvonne WellsAge: 34Sex: FemaleRace: WhiteHeight: 5'10"Weight: 140Hair: BrownEyes: BrownInformation: On November 5th, 2024 Megan Wells was reported missing. Megan was last seen at her residence in Merlin on the morning of November 4th, 2024. She is driving a red 2004 Jeep Cherokee, OR DMV 743BBH.Please contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office with any information.Phone: 541-474-5123
Former Owner of a Bend-Based Microbrewery Equipment Company Sentenced to Federal Prison for Mail and Wire Fraud
EUGENE, Ore.— The former owner of a Bend, Oregon-based microbrewery equipment company was sentenced to federal prison today for defrauding nearly two dozen customers out of more than $880,000. Matthew Mulder, 52, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $887,116 in restitution to his victims.Mulder used his company, WeCan Brewing Systems, LLC, which he co-founded in 2014, to solicit payments for custom-built microbrewery systems
Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash - Redwood Ave, Grants Pass
RELEASE DATE: November 4, 2024INCIDENT NUMBER: 24-26182INCIDENT DATE AND TIME: 11/02/2024 at 11:00 PMREPORTING DEPUTY: Sergeant StantonINCIDENT TYPE: Fatal Motor Vehicle CrashDECEASED: Trevor Aron Dimick, 23 years oldOn November 2nd, 2024 at 11:00 PM, 9-1-1 was notified of a motor vehicle crash on Redwood Avenue at Jenkins Avenue. Grants Pass Fire Rescue and AMR arrived to find a vehicle in the ditch and confirmed the driver was deceased. The driver was the only occupant in the vehicle.The ini
Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash - Water Gap Road, Williams
RELEASE DATE: November 4, 2024INCIDENT NUMBER: 24-26129INCIDENT DATE AND TIME: 11/02/2024 at 10:35 PMREPORTING DEPUTY: Corporal SchreiberINCIDENT TYPE: Fatal Motor Vehicle CrashDECEASED: Juvenile maleOn November 2nd, 2024, at 10:35 PM, Deputies, AMR, and fire personnel responded to the 15300 Block of Water Gap Road, Williams, Oregon for a report of a single vehicle crash. First responders arrived on scene and confirmed the driver, a 16-year-old male, was deceased. It appeared the driver wa
United States Attorney's Office Announces District Election Officer
PORTLAND, Ore.—United States Attorney Natalie Wight announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Ethan Knight will lead the efforts of this office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Ethan Knight, Cyber and National Security Unit Chief, has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of Oregon, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the
Child Sexual Predator Eluded Capture in Idaho, Has Ties to Southern Oregon, He May Be Dressed as a Woman (Photo)
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho - A fugitive with ties to the southern Oregon region is on-the-run after eluding capture Tuesday, October 22 in Idaho. Christian Bert Fischer, 42, is wanted in Florida for Traveling to Meet a Minor After Use of a Computer to Lure a Child. Fischer is a white male, 5’10”, 200 lbs., has blonde hair and blue-colored eyes. He is also known to dress like a woman. Before heading to Idaho, Fischer was in the Portland area. This June and July, he was in Ashland, Lake of the Woods, an
17 People Indicted for Conspiring to Steal More Than $2.4 Million in SNAP Benefits
PORTLAND, Ore.—17 people are facing federal charges for conspiring to defraud the United States of more than $2.4 million in fraudulent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.A coordinated, multi-agency law enforcement operation was conducted Tuesday to dismantle the interstate fraud organization that used skimming devices and stolen Electric Benefits Transfer (EBT) accounts to purchase SNAP-eligible products fo
Wilsonville Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Laundering More Than $4.6 Million in Drug Proceeds
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Wilsonville, Oregon woman was sentenced to federal prison today for laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds as the chief money launderer for a drug trafficking organization operating in the Pacific Northwest and California.Jacqueline Paola Rodriguez Barrientos, 44, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.“We thank the coordinated efforts of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners actively combatting these drug traff
Sheriff's Deputies, Search & Rescue Attempting to Locate Missing Woman Last Seen in Prospect Area (Photo)
JCSO Case 24-5775 PROSPECT, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies along with Search and Rescue (SAR) are attempting to locate a woman missing out of Prospect since early Sunday morning, October 20. April Larson is described as a 41-year-old white woman, 5’6” tall, weighing 120 lbs. She has purple and blue dyed hair with brown eyes. April was last seen around 1:00 AM going for a walk in the 1st Street area of Prospect. She had a flashlight and is believed to be wearing dark clot
Missing Persons: Pratt, Donald and Eric
Donald PrattAge: 71Sex: MaleRace: WhiteHeight: 6'0"Weight: 240Hair: BrownEyes: Brown***Eric PrattAge: 39Sex: MaleRace: WhiteHeight:6'4"Weight: 300Hair: BrownEyes: BrownOn October 20, 2024, Donald and Eric Pratt went hunting. Their vehicle was captured on cameras heading out to the Illinois Valley early that morning. It is believed they went up Lone Mountain Rd in O'Brien and may be near the Sourdough Campground. They are in a white Toyota pickup with a white canopy, Oregon plate 267 CZH.Pleas
Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers formally mobilized for overseas mission in Egypt (Photo)
ASHLAND, Ore. – The Oregon Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment were formally mobilized during a ceremony held at Raider Stadium on the campus of Southern Oregon University, in Ashland, Oregon, on October 20, 2024.Nearly 205 Citizen-Soldiers will be part of a Multinational Force and Observers Mission in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. The unit’s primary mission will be to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace and emp