The latest news stories and stories of interest in the Willamette Valley from the digital home of Southern Oregon, from Wynne Broadcasting’s WillametteValleyMagazine.com
Monday, February 13, 2023
Willamette Valley Weather
ISSUED: 4:23 AM FEB. 13, 2023 – NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM PST TUESDAY…
* WHAT…Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of a dusting to 1 inch, except 1 to 3 inches above 500 feet. * WHERE…Portions of northwest Oregon and southwest Washington.
* WHEN…From 10 PM this evening to 10 AM PST Tuesday.
* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday morning commute. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Accumulations will vary considerably below 1000 feet, with most areas seeing less than a half inch of snow accumulation. Isolated, heavier snow showers will produce localized snow accumulations of 1 inch or more, especially for elevations above 500 feet.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… Slow down and use caution while traveling. For the latest road conditions call 5 1 1, or visit: https://www.tripcheck.com
Eugene Police Seek Other Victims After Arresting Man Who’s Been Filming Women In Restrooms
According to the Eugene Police Department, a man who would allegedly follow women into public restrooms and record them has been jailed after reportedly being caught and restrained by a victim’s boyfriend until police could arrive. Eugene police are asking for any other victims to come forward.
According to EPD, officers responded to a report of a dispute involving a man restraining another man at a WinCo on Barger Drive in Eugene at about 6:45 p.m. on February 7. When officers arrived, they said they were told that the man being restrained had allegedly been recording a woman in the restroom.
According to officers, the woman discovered the suspect, later identified as Bryant Aguilar-Beltran, 21, filming her while she was in the WinCo restroom stall. Police were told the victim’s boyfriend was waiting outside for her, and when she told him of the incident, he confronted Aguilar-Beltran as he left the restroom. The suspect allegedly pushed past the boyfriend and tried to run away, but the boyfriend said he chased him down and tackled him to the ground outside the store, and held him down until police arrived. Aguilar-Beltran was taken to the Lane County Jail and charged with first-degree invasion of personal privacy.
According to EPD, a follow-up investigation revealed more videos of a similar nature in Aguilar-Beltran’s possession, allegedly taken around the time of the incident at WinCo. Police said the women in the recordings have yet to be identified. In addition, police also said they are investigating an incident involving Aguilar-Beltran from the same WinCo that occurred on November 9, 2022, and a similar incident that happened on August 19, 2022 at The Hippie Museum in Springfield. In both incidents, the women being surreptitiously recorded have not been identified.
Eugene police said their Violent Crimes Unit is following up on the case, and is seeking to speak with other women who may have used the women’s restroom at the Barger Drive WinCo between 6 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. on February 7, or who may have used the restroom at The Hippie Museum on August 19, 2022. Detectives are also asking for any information on other unreported sexually-based incidents involving Aguilar-Beltran. Those with information are asked to contact Detective Jed McGuire at 541-682-6308 or via email.
Woman Arrested After Assaulting Driver and Stealing Vehicle in Eugene
At 10:43 p.m. on February 9, Eugene Police officers were called to respond to a physical dispute at East Broadway and Willamette Street. Upon arrival, they found two 18-year-old woman had had their vehicle taken by another woman, later identified as Jerimy Sara Laxton, age 37.
The driver of the vehicle, a Ford Focus, had gotten out of the vehicle and was approached by Laxton, who began pushing and shoving the her. When the victim began to scream, Laxton is reported to have made jabbing motions.
The vehicle’s passenger got out and tried to come to her friend’s aid. But, Laxton is reported to have turned her attention to her and made jabbing motions to her as well. Laxton had a knife.
A 39-year-old man who works in the area ran over to help and told the teens to get away from Laxton. They stepped away and Laxton got into the vehicle and drove away at a high rate of speed eastbound on West Broadway towards Oak Street. The driver had some non-life threatening lacerations.
The driver reported her vehicle had a tracker inside it and officers were able to located it near Cottage Grove, Oregon on Interstate 5. Laxton refused to stop and pull over for officers. EPD officers successfully performed a tactical vehicle intervention and took Laxton into custody at Highway 99 and Jefferson.
Laxton was placed into custody at the scene and then transported to Lane County Jail on charges of Assault in the Second Degree, Attempted Assault in the Second Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Unauthorized Use Vehicle, Elude-Vehicle, and Reckless Driving, and DUII. Laxton also had a warrant out of Oklahoma. Case 23-02055
California Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Multistate Credit Card “Bust-Out” Conspiracy Operated from Corvallis
EUGENE, Ore.—A California woman was sentenced to federal prison today for her role in a multistate credit card “bust-out” fraud scheme that cost multiple banks more than $2.5 million.
Mariam Gevorkova, 37, of Glendale, California, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. Gevorkova was also ordered to pay more than $2.5 million in restitution.
According to court documents, in December 2016, the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) initiated an investigation into a credit card “bust-out” fraud perpetrated by individuals residing in the Corvallis, Oregon area.
A credit card “bust-out” is a scheme in which perpetrators obtain credit cards for the purpose of making purchases and running up large balances with no intent to pay. After making credit card purchases, payments are made to the cards from accounts controlled by the perpetrators. After numerous purchases and payments are made, the perpetrators report to their banks that the payments made on the credit cards were not authorized. The banks, in turn, seek and obtain reimbursement from the credit card companies who, as a result, incur a loss when the funds are returned to the perpetrator’s bank.
Gevorkova and her co-conspirators opened credit card accounts using stolen and fictitious identities and used them to purchase jewelry and clothing, fund gambling and vacations, establish and begin operating at least two large marijuana grows, and cover the operating expenses of the Corvallis Cannabis Club, a state-licensed marijuana shop in Corvallis. Gevorkova recruited others into the conspiracy, including Corvallis Cannabis Club employees.
On June 11, 2018, Gevorkova and eight accomplices were charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and manufacturing, distributing, and possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances.
On August 31, 2020, Gevorkova was charged by criminal information with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to manufacture or possess with intent to distribute marijuana. Two weeks later, on October 13, 2020, she waived indictment and pleaded guilty to all three charges in the criminal information.
This case was investigated by the FBI, USPIS, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from Oregon State Police and the Corvallis and Philomath Police Departments. It was prosecuted by Gavin W. Bruce, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Get Prepared For A Round Of Snow And Winter Weather
Parts of the Pacific Northwest should brace for a winter storm Monday as the National Weather Service says in the forecast of heavy snowfall and strong winds in some areas.
A cold front is sweeping through western Oregon, bringing the potential for snow from the coast to the Cascades.
Winter storm and winter weather advisories were issued for western Oregon and parts of southeastern Washington. Officials said the snow is expected to blanket the region beginning this evening through mid-day Tuesday.
In the Coast Range and Cascade foothills, a Winter Storm Warning is posted. In the Coast Range, total snow accumulations of 6 to 11 inches are possible. Below 2000 feet, 2 to 7 inches are expected. The Cascade foothills, 3 to 9 inches are forecast below 1,500 feet. Above that, 8 to 18 inches are possible.
For the Cascade passes, 12 to 17 inches are expected. Below 4000 feet, forecasts are calling for 6 to 12 inches.
On top of an expected six to 11 inches of snow in areas above 2,000 feet (two to seven inches below 2,000 feet), the NWS warned of wind gusts as high as 40 mph in some parts. Officials strongly cautioned against travel in some areas, such as Medford, Oregon.
Portland, under a winter weather advisory, expects to receive around half an inch of snowfall late Monday night into Tuesday morning. Officials urged residents to drive with caution as they expected slippery road conditions.
IRS, state clarify no taxes owed on One Time Assistance Payments
Salem, OR — Oregonians who received One-Time Assistance Payments (OTAP) of $600 last June do not owe taxes on those payments, the Oregon Department of Revenue announced Friday.
“Based on the language in the legislation creating the payments, we have always believed that they were not taxable to Oregon. The IRS clarified today that Oregonians who received the payments will not owe federal taxes on them, as well,” said Department of Revenue Director Betsy Imholt.
In its statement issued today, the IRS noted taxpayers in many states would not need to report this type of assistance payment on their 2022 tax returns. Oregon was among 17 states where the IRS said it would not challenge such payments as excludable for federal income tax purposes in 2022.
The IRS statement clarified that Oregonians who received OTAP payments last year can go ahead and file their 2022 federal and state income tax returns as soon as they are ready. This year’s filing deadline is April 18.
E-filing is the fastest way for a taxpayer to get their refund. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund 34 days sooner than taxpayers who mail their paper returns and request paper refund checks. Taxpayers should file just once. Sending a paper return through the mail after e-filing will delay your refund.
Oregon Lawmakers Consider Suicide Prevention Bills
Oregon lawmakers are considering several bills designed to improve how people in crisis get help. Specifically, if they’re struggling with thoughts of suicide. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Oregon ranks 13th in the nation for deaths by suicide. The legislation includes a tax to supplement the long-term operation of 988, an emergency number that routes callers to mental health crisis lines.
On Monday, lawmakers will hear testimony on SB 818 and SB 514. The bills focus on suicide prevention by supporting access to training resources for medical professionals.
Last week, the House Committee on Behavioral and Health Care heard testimony on HB 2757. It asks lawmakers to support a 50-cent cell phone tax to fund services connected to 988. The resource works like 911, but callers are routed straight to mental health crisis lines.
Since Oregon transitioned to 988 in July, call centers including Lines for Life report they’ve received an average of 684 more calls per month, about a 50 percent bump. It shows the system is working but advocates say in order to meet that growing need, additional funding is critical.
Emergency Physicians from Providence Medford Unionize to Address Patient Safety and Staff Burnout
Fifteen emergency department physicians working at Providence Medford Medical Center announced their plans to file with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for union recognition.
The new group, Southern Oregon Providers Association (SOPA), will focus its collective bargaining power on addressing understaffing and safe patient care and ensuring access to care for the region’s most vulnerable patients. SOPA will partner with the Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association (PNWHMA), an existing hospitalists union represented by the American Federation of Teachers (Local 6552) and serviced by the Oregon Nurses Association.
“Our patients have experienced increasing wait times and delays in care because of a lack of staff. In many cases I have had to transfer them to facilities hundreds of miles away because we don’t have anyone who can perform certain procedures,” said David Levin, DO. “Providence management should be focusing on improving staffing and gaps in patient care, but when we repeatedly brought our concerns to their attention we have been met with silence. Unionizing helps balance the scales between us and management so we can make this a place that patients recommend first to their loved ones, and a magnet workplace for providers.”
On Thursday, February 9, 2023, the physicians delivered a letter to management petitioning for voluntary recognition so that they could promptly begin collective bargaining over their concerns about patient care, staffing, and other issues. After being declined for voluntary recognition by Providence administration, the physicians filed for a union recognition election through traditional NLRB mechanisms today, February 10, 2023.
Dr. Mollie Skov-Ortega, President of the PNWHMA at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, said, “It is exciting to add another group of physicians to our association. When we voted to unionize more than eight years ago, it gave us the strength and the voice to be able to stand up for what matters most – patient care and patient safety. We stand behind Southern Oregon Providers Association so they can have the opportunity to do the same.”
Dr. Levin says it’s the strong bond his colleagues share with each other and the community that keeps them there but being called upon regularly to fill in for other roles in the hospital is taxing. “As ER physicians we have a diverse skill set that can be put to use in other departments, but when I leave to help the ICU, who is going to take care of those in the ER waiting room? Providence must make a renewed commitment to how they recruit and retain staff so I and my colleagues can focus on what we do best – treating patients who come to the emergency room.”
Oregon Attorney General Launches Criminal Investigation Into OLCC Scandal
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced on Friday she will investigate whether there was any criminal wrongdoing by top managers at the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission who diverted specialty bourbons away from public consumption for their own personal use.
An internal OLCC investigation revealed a long-standing practice in which liquor commission staff, including director Steve Marks, sent rare bottles of bourbon to certain stores where they could purchase it, violating state ethics laws and denying the general public access to rare, highly-priced brands. One employee said the practice was widespread and included state lawmakers.
On Wednesday, Governor Tina Kotek sent a letter to members of the liquor and cannabis commission calling the conduct “wholly unacceptable” and asking commissioners to fire the five managers who admitted to the practice. Kotek had already asked Marks to step down before learning of the internal OLCC investigation.
Oregon heavily regulates when and where liquor can be sold. While beer and wine can be purchased in a supermarket or a convenience store, hard alcohol is sold in liquor stores operated by the state and managed by liquor agents who are selected by OLCC commissioners. There are 248 liquor stores in Oregon distributed throughout the state on the basis of population.
The state is in charge of determining how many stores there are, where they are located, purchasing the liquor, and distributing it as well. Kotek has asked members of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, a board she appoints, to install new leadership and remove the managers who were implicated in the scandal.
