Eight Arrested for 71 Felony Counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse
The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) along with the Oregon Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested eight suspects Wednesday on a total of 71 encouraging child sex abuse felony charges. The first arrest was around 6:30 a.m. when deputies pulled over a suspect near his residence in the 1500 block of Clear Springs Drive in Medford. Eric Richard Rand, 58, of Medford, was arrested. The task force then located and arrested Charles Harvey McMillan, 33, of Talent at 6:40 a.m. Just before 8 a.m., Medford Police located the next suspect sleeping in his car at Holmes Park. Jermaine “JJ” Owens, 53, of Medford, was then arrested for his charges. Around 8:04 a.m., Joel Vincente Leal, 21, was arrested for his charges at his apartment in the 1000 block of Spring Street in Medford. Minutes later, investigators located and arrested Robert Paul Phillips, 74, at his residence in the 300 block of West Gregory Road in rural Central Point.
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Legal Counsel Directed on Potential Adult Jail Levy
The Board of Commissioners gave Legal Counsel direction regarding a potential 89 cent levy for the Adult Jail, with further discussion to take place. Next Friday is the deadline for a decision on the Adult Jail and Juvenile Detention Five Year Local Option Tax. Following a lengthy discussion about funding and public clarity, Commissioner Colene Martin felt renewing the levy would be best, while Commissioner Gary Richardson brought up a potential new tax of 89 cents for the jail only. Commissioner Ron Smith suggested putting together a campaign for the detention center. Earlier in the meeting, the board gave no objection for Solid Waste Nuisance Abatement litigation to go through, and followed Counsel's advice to move forward with the dissolution process of the Road District. It has yet to be dissolved as of today. Josephine County was provided an opportunity to intervene in Clatsop County case Jewell School District v. Oregon Department of Forestry et al. The board approved Legal Counsel to pursue the endeavor.
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I-5 Fire at 100 acres and 55% Containment, Mop-Up, Gridding Operations Continue
The I-5 MM 57 NB Fire remains at 100 acres and is 55% contained after firefighters made further progress yesterday. The Oregon Department of Forestry reports crews focused on systematically gridding the fire area Wednesday to locate and extinguish remaining hotspots. An infrared equipped UAS helped map lingering heat overnight, allowing firefighters to identify additional hotspots. Today, firefighters will build on this progress with extensive mop-up and gridding operations, working up to 300 feet into the fire perimeter and removing hazardous snags throughout steep, heavily timbered terrain. A reconnaissance flight is planned to help confirm any remaining areas of heat or concern, and aircraft are ready to support ground crews if needed. Resources assigned to the blaze include four 20-person hand crews, five Type 6 engines, one Type 3 engine, two water tenders, two dozers, three skid units, one falling module, and a reconnaissance flight. Red Flag Warnings remain in effect, as well as a Level 1: BE READY Evacuation Warning for Zones GRA-022, GRA-034, GRA-036, JCU-422-B, and JCU-422-C.
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