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Deputies Arrest Two Suspects in Connection to Wire Theft - Additional Suspect Sought

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Lane County, Ore. – On January 16th, at approximately 7 a.m., a local resident in the Triangle Lake area of Highway 36 reported observing three individuals starting a fire on private property. The individuals matched the description of suspects linked to a recent wire theft in the region. Deputies quickly responded to the scene and made contact with the suspects. Two of the individuals were found to have outstanding arrest warrants. However, the third suspect, identified as 56-year-old Craig Leon Beaty, fled the area. A Lane County Sheriff’s detective soon joined the investigation. Authorities were able to locate stolen wire, which provided sufficient evidence to arrest all three individuals in connection to the wire theft. The two suspects with warrants were taken into custody and lodged at the Lane County Jail: Kenneth Lee Wilson , 50, of Florence, faces charges of Theft in the 1st Degree , Burglary in the 2nd Degree , and Failure to Report as a Sex Offender . He also had three outst...
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The Story of Lane County's Two Known Official Hangings

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EUGENE, ORE — The year is 1899, and Eugene, Oregon, is still reeling from a chilling crime that would forever shape the city’s dark history. The brutal murder of rancher John Linn sent shockwaves through the McKenzie River Valley. The culprits? Two young farmhands, Claude Henry Branton and Courtland Green. They thought Linn was carrying a small fortune of $1,000, but after killing him, they found just $65 in his possession. A far cry from their expectations, and the start of a series of botched cover-ups. From Branton's failed disguise attempts—donning a fake beard to impersonate Linn—to the pair’s failed attempt to sell the stolen horses, their desperate efforts were doomed from the start. While Branton fled the state, Green, ridden with guilt, confessed and received a life sentence. Branton, unaware of the fate that awaited him, returned to Eugene, was arrested, and became the first person officially executed by hanging in Lane County in 1899. But the tale doesn’t end there. Fast...
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Junction City Man Arrested After Suspicious Vehicle Found Outside Lane County Public Service Building

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EUGENE, Ore. – A 38-year-old Junction City man was arrested on January 15th after a suspicious vehicle was found parked outside the Lane County Public Service Building in Eugene. Around 7:30 a.m., a Lane County Sheriff’s sergeant noticed the vehicle, which was illegally parked near the intersection of Pearl Street and 8th Avenue. The car belonged to William Ray Lighty , who had been reported the night before as suicidal and possibly armed with a handgun. Authorities say Lighty appeared to be sleeping in the driver’s seat when deputies arrived on scene. Given the previous report and the vehicle's proximity to the Public Service Building, several deputies responded to the scene. Using a drone, deputies carefully inspected the vehicle from the outside. Lighty was initially uncooperative but eventually complied with instructions and was safely detained. A search of the vehicle revealed ammunition, but no firearms were found. Deputies also observed signs that Lighty was impaired. After ...
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One Arrested in Series of Veneta Area Burglaries; One Still at Large

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VENETA, Ore. – Authorities have arrested a Veneta man in connection with a series of burglaries that occurred in the area over a two-week period in October of 2024. Lane County Sheriff's Deputies identified Austin James Blaylock, 30, of Veneta, as a suspect in the burglaries of a local restaurant, residence, and market. After serving search warrants at two residences connected to Blaylock, deputies located evidence linking him to the crimes. Blaylock was arrested and booked into the Lane County Jail on multiple charges, including two counts of Burglary in the First Degree, four counts of Burglary in the Second Degree, five counts of Theft in the First Degree, Theft in the Second Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree. As of January 14th, Blaylock remains in custody. Deputies also identified Charles Guy Younkin-Stec, 33, of Veneta, as an additional suspect in the burglaries. In the process of investigating, deputies applied for and were granted a search warrant for Younk...
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20-Year-Old Arrested on Multiple Encouraging Child Sex Abuse Charges

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  EUGENE, Ore. – A 20-year-old Eugene man has been arrested as part of an ongoing Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigation led by the Lane County Sheriff’s Office. UPDATE: The DA has filed on all ten Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree charges, but no filed on the ten counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree. On January 14, detectives served a search warrant at a residence south of Eugene as part of an investigation focused on child exploitation. The investigation, conducted by the Lane County ICAC Task Force, resulted in the arrest of  Andrew John Hruby  on ten counts of  Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree , and ten counts of  Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree , both felonies. At this time, there is no indication that local victims are involved, and the charges are related to the possession, not production, of child pornography. The investigation received assistance from several ...
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Foster Parent Pleads Guilty to Multiple Charges in Sex Abuse Case

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EUGENE, Ore. – A 43-year-old man has pleaded guilty and was sentenced to multiple charges related to the abuse of a minor, following an investigation by Lane County Sheriff’s detectives. The investigation began on October 31, 2023, after allegations were made against Jeffery Allen Adams, who was the foster parent of the juvenile victim. Detectives quickly developed probable cause to arrest Adams on several charges related to sex crimes against the juvenile victim. As detectives worked to locate Adams, they received information that he was on his way to the victim’s location. Detectives and deputies acted swiftly, intercepting him less than a mile from the juvenile victim’s whereabouts. Adams was arrested and booked into the Lane County Jail on charges including sex abuse and sodomy. On January 13, 2025, Adams pleaded guilty to one count of Rape in the Second Degree, four counts of Rape in the Third Degree, and two counts of Sodomy in the Third Degree. He was sentenced to 120 months (10...
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Eugene Couple Arrested for Animal Neglect After Dog Found Dead in Hot Car

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  EUGENE, Ore. – A Eugene couple has been arrested after one of their dogs was found dead in a hot car at the Navigation Center on River Avenue in June 2024. On June 23, 2024, Eugene Police responded to the center around 5 a.m. after a report that a dog had been found deceased in a vehicle. Another dog, an older Labrador, was also discovered in the car. Authorities believe the dogs had been left in the hot vehicle for an extended period of time, contributing to the tragic death of one of the animals. The owners of the dogs, 46-year-old Joshua Makii McFarland and Shayla Rose McFarland, had been staying at the Navigation Center at the time. Both were charged with Animal Neglect in the First Degree and Animal Neglect in the Second Degree. On the morning of January 12, 2025, Eugene Police located Joshua near Lone Oak and Division Avenue and Shayla inside Fred Meyer at 60 Division Avenue. They were arrested without incident. Additionally, Joshua McFarland faces charges of Possession of ...
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