Former SOU Students Snared for Vandalizing Ashland Jewish Center in December
Two young men have been arrested for vandalizing a Jewish Center in Ashland last month.
The Ashland Police Department reports officers responded to the incident at the Chabad Jewish Center on December 14th. Video evidence from the scene and surrounding businesses showed three people approach the center with one of them throwing eggs while yelling "Heil Hitler."
APD posted video evidence of the incident on social media and the suspects were identified almost immediately. The primary suspect was identified as 18-year-old Zachary Demarest of Corvallis and another suspect was identified as 18-year-old Jacob Wilhelm of Blackfoot, Idaho. The third person was not implicated in the crime and is therefore not being named.
APD Chief Tighe O'Meara said all three people were students at Southern Oregon University at the time of the incident. He said they left the area for winter break shortly after the incident was reported. Two of them are no longer enrolled at SOU.
Demerest -- who was the person seen throwing the eggs -- was contacted and told to turn himself in. He did so on January 19th and was lodged at the Jackson County Jail for 2nd-Degree Bias Crime and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief.
Wilhelm's involvement consisted of him encouraging Demarest's criminal behavior, which made him a criminal co-conspirator. He was cited to appear in court for Bias Crime and Criminal Mischief.
Chief O'Meara said he appreciates the cooperation and assistance of SOU in investigating this case. He said APD will investigate all complaints of bias crime and work with the Jackson County District Attorney to prosecute all offenders.
