ICAC and SOCET Jackson County Operation Results in 2 Arrests for Child Exploitation
The Oregon Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force worked with the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) to execute several search warrants. The operation resulted in two arrests connected to an ongoing investigation into child sexual abuse material being traded online. Preliminary findings indicate more than a thousand images and videos were exchanged over social media platforms. The warrants, carried out in Jackson County, targeted individuals suspected of encouraging child sexual abuse in the first and second degree. Investigators seized multiple electronic devices, which will undergo forensic analysis, and the evidence will be referred to prosecutors for review. In White City, officers arrested Eddie Lukon Stith at an address on Avenue H on an outstanding warrant from Spokane, Washington, for sexual exploitation of a minor. In Medford, investigators arrested Matthew Mario Maya at an address on Table Rock Road on 10 new counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the First Degree. ...Read more

Kelsey Peak Fire Reaches 90% Containment, Mop-Up Operations Continue

Firefighters on the Kelsey Peak Fire are rounding the corner on mop-up operations, bringing containment up to 90%. The fire remains 1,039 acres in size. Helicopters will be working again to support ground crews, and repair work along fire lines is ongoing. This afternoon, a local Type 3 Incident Management Team made up of Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest resources will work with ODF Team 1 to get a current overview of the incident. The Curry County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 1 – BE READY evacuation order for Rogue River Ranch, Tucker Flat Campground and Marial. The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management has a Level 1 – BE READY evacuation notice for Zone JCU-801 in place. ...Read more

JoCo Library District Responds to Commissioner's Statement Regarding Lease

The Josephine Community Library District released a statement in response to the Josephine County Board of Commissioners September 15th press release. The board said they "approved a lease with the library, and is pending the library board's approval" in their release sent out Tuesday. According to the library, county legal counsel and the library’s legal counsel are still drafting a new lease, with Commissioner Andreas Blech. The matter was initially scheduled to come before the Board of County Commissioners on September 18 during the commissioners’ weekly business session, but Commissioner Blech has since moved the discussion to the September 23 administrative session. During the August 21st Weekly Business Session meeting, Commissioner Blech added a "termination for convenience" clause allowing either party to cancel the lease on 30 days' notice, a clause he said was in the current agreement at that time. ...Read more