Eugene man indicted for virtual threats, references historic Thurston tragedy
A federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment this month charging a Eugene, Ore. man with posting violent threats online, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Jeffrey Allen Voss, 31, has been charged with transmitting interstate threats and attempting to tamper with evidence.
According to court documents, between Sept. 24 and 27, 2024, Voss is alleged to have posted several videos of himself online making violent threats, including two in which he was holding a firearm.
In another video, Voss discussed becoming the next Kip Kinkel, referring to a school shooter who, in 1998, first murdered his parents and then opened fire at Thurston High, killing two of his classmates and injuring 25 others.
Following those videos, on Sept. 27, concerned citizens called 911 to report a Facebook Live video Voss posted wherein he allegedly claimed he was minutes from a high school and made violent threats. Acting quickly, the Eugene Police Department located and arrested Voss the same day.
On Oct. 1, the FBI executed a search warrant on Voss’s residence. Agents located and seized two firearms, one replica firearm, ammunition, body armor, electronic storage media, and a handwritten note outlining his desires for vengeance and specifying individuals Voss wished to harm. The same day, upon learning his residence would be searched, Voss attempted to persuade an individual to conceal or remove evidence from his home.
Voss appeared in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
If convicted, Voss faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, 3 years’ supervised release, and a fine of $500,000.
Hunter located, dog missing
OAKRIDGE — On Nov. 11 at about 4 p.m., LCSO Search & Rescue responded to the area above Hills Creek Dam for an overdue hunter with medical issues. The dam is located 45 miles southeast of Eugene, on the Middle Fork Willamette River, four miles southwest of Oakridge. SAR personnel located the hunter and provided initial medical care. He was hypothermic and transported by ambulance to an area hospital.
The hunter’s dog, an older Rhodesian Ridgeback, Sedona, has not been located. Watch for Sedona in the area of Hills Creek Reservoir and call 541-682-4141.
Fatal crash on NW Expressway
EUGENE – On Nov. 12 at 4:43 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on the Northwest Expressway near milepost .5 in Lane County. The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Acura MDX, operated by Jeffery Alan Milchak, 40, of Eugene, left the roadway for unknown reasons, struck a tree, and became fully engulfed. Milchak was declared deceased at the scene. The highway was impacted for approximately 3.5 hours. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Get N Go robber goes to jail
SPRINGFIELD — On Nov. 11 at 4:56 p.m., Springfield Police responded to the Get N Go Grocery at 150 28th St. in Springfield regarding an armed robbery. A man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt jacket, a black COVID-19-style mask, black sweatpants, and black colored Crocs-style shoes entered the location and approached the clerk working the front counter. He brandished a small firearm while also telling the clerk to give him some money. Once he collected the cash, he fled from the location on foot.
Officers and detectives collected video surveillance, which assisted in identifying the suspect as Mario Moreno-Soto, 31, of Springfield. On Nov. 12, detectives began surveillance on Moreno-Soto’s residence and found him parked in a parking lot near South 32nd and Main streets.
Moreno-Soto was taken into custody without incident and charged with Robbery I. The involved firearm and stolen money were also located during the arrest.
