31 cats rescued from Springfield hoarder
SPRINGFIELD – In a rescue effort between Greenhill Humane Society and Springfield Animal Control, 31 cats were saved on Jan. 28 after being found abandoned in a neglected rented townhome in Springfield.
“All of these cats arrived with various health issues, including some serious conditions caused by malnutrition,” said Ashley Lalan, Greenhill’s feline program manager. The location of the house was not made public.
Upon their arrival, the cats were in dire need of attention, with dirty coats, malnutrition, and flea infestations. The cats range in age from 3 months to 1.5 years old.
The Greenhill team provided vaccinations, parasite treatments, and a proper diet, and future adopters will receive detailed medical information to ensure ongoing care for their new pets.
“Our priority is to provide them with the essential care and treatment they need,” adding that despite their rough beginnings, the cats have shown remarkable resilience, becoming friendly and affectionate toward staff.
Sam Schwartz, communications manager for the shelter, last reported that 13 cats had been adopted, leaving four barn cats still up for adoption, 12 cats with pending adoption applications, and two cats still receiving medical treatment.
“The remaining cats will become available in the coming weeks,” she said.
Lane County DUI Incidents
■ Jan. 31: Lane County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 22-year-old Omani De La Selva Canani for DUI after responding to his vehicle off the road near Chambers Street and Crest Drive.
■ Feb. 1: Thirty-year-old Aroya Dawn Newton-Kemplin crashed into a tree on Sears Road. Significantly injured, she was airlifted and later cited for DUI.
■ Feb. 2: Deputies arrested 44-year-old Krysa Lea Matsen for DUI following a report of impaired driving on Parker Lane.
■ Feb 2: Deputies responded to a crash on Reservoir Road, where 37-year-old Jaime Nichole Wenetta was found impaired and subsequently cited for DUI.
New Springfield K9s: Poker and Taro
SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield Police Department welcomed the newest members to the team in January. Poker is a 1-year-old German Shepherd born in the Netherlands, who received his initial training in California. According to police, he is the youngest dog in the history of the SPD K9 Unit.
Poker was paired with his handler, Officer Julio Garcia-Cash. He previously paired with K9 Gryff, who died in May 2024 of cancer. Garcia-Cash has been an officer for nine years and is in his second term in the K9 Unit.
Taro is a 2-year-old German Shepherd born in Austria and received his initial training in California. After being selected and brought back to Oregon, Taro began bonding with his handler, Officer Daniel Granillo. They completed an intensive six-week course together before joining the patrol.
“I wanted to be a K9 handler because I find it incredibly impressive that our K9s can do the work they do in tracking and locating individuals who might otherwise not be found,” he said. Granillo has been a police officer for 5 years and was selected last fall as the newest handler to join the K9 Unit.
The Springfield Police Department K9 Unit is supported by community donations, which are used to provide veterinary care, equipment, and training. Community donations were also used to purchase K9 Poker.
Winco thieves arrested
SPRINGFIELD – On Jan, 24, Springfield Police arrested two suspects involved in a theft at Winco on Olympic Street. Officers responded to a call from loss prevention personnel who witnessed 47-year-old Norman Olson shoplifting and leaving the store in a white Ford, police said.
Prior to police arrival, it was confirmed that Olson had four outstanding felony warrants, including charges for eluding, theft, possession of heroin, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Given the circumstances, police said officers strategically blocked the vehicle to prevent Olson from fleeing.
Both Olson and his passenger, 37-year-old Grace Short, refused to exit the vehicle, and the officers broke a window for safer communication, police said. Olson eventually exited and was taken into custody, alongside Short, who also had an outstanding warrant.
Both suspects face additional charges: Olson for Theft III and Obstruction of Governmental Justice, while Short was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Fentanyl).
Police recover stolen trailers
EUGENE – On Jan.14, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received reports of two stolen trailers from a storage facility in the 86200 block of College View Road, where deputies identified the suspects as Joshua Adam Hemion, 46, and Kimberly Ann Hemion, 48, both residents of Fall Creek.
LCSO was granted a warrant, and on Jan. 16, LCSO served the search warrant at the property, where both stolen trailers were recovered, along with much of the property they contained.
The Hemions were arrested and booked into the Lane County Jail on charges including two counts each of Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle and Theft in the 1st Degree, as well as Theft in the 2nd Degree. Joshua Hemion was also found to have a warrant for his arrest from Washington.
Resident aids in arrests of wire theft suspects; one still on the run
TRIANGLE LAKE – A resident in the Triangle Lake area on Jan. 16 alerted authorities about a fire on private property, leading to the arrest of two suspects in a wire theft investigation.
Around 7 a.m., the resident reported seeing three people who matched the description of suspects involved in a recent wire theft. Lane County deputies responded and found two of the suspects had outstanding warrants. The third suspect, identified as Craig Leon Beaty, 56, fled the scene.
A detective from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office joined the investigation, which resulted in locating the stolen wire. Kenneth Lee Wilson, 50, of Florence, and Kolby Timmothy Vandehey, 37, of Eugene, were arrested and booked into the Lane County Jail on charges including first-degree theft and second-degree burglary, along with several outstanding warrants.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information on the whereabouts of Beaty. Anyone with details is urged to call the sheriff’s office.
Man sentenced 10 years for abuse of minor
A 43-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing a minor. Jeffery Allen Adams, the foster parent of the juvenile victim, was arrested following an investigation initiated by the Lane County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 31, 2023.
Detectives began looking into allegations of multiple sex crimes against the minor. During the investigation, authorities learned he was headed to the victim’s location and moved quickly to intercept him.
Adams was apprehended less than a mile from where the victim was located. He was charged with several counts of sex abuse and sodomy.
On Jan.13, 2025, he 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 subsequently sentenced to 120 months in the Oregon Department of Corrections.
Man arrest for cyber crimes against children
EUGENE – A 20-year-old man was arrested on Jan. 14 during a search warrant execution at a residence south of Eugene as part of an investigation into child exploitation.
Andrew John Hruby was taken into custody by detectives from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office and the Lane County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. He faces ten counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 1st Degree related to the possession of child pornography.
Authorities stated there is currently no evidence suggesting local victims are involved in the case. The investigation has received assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Springfield Police Department, Oregon State Police, and the Oregon Department of Justice.
This arrest is part of an ongoing collaboration among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies aimed at combatting child exploitation and protecting vulnerable members of the community. The investigation remains active, and no further details are available at this time.
Deputies search for suspected burglar in Veneta
VENETA – Lane County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a series of burglaries in the Veneta area, with 30-year-old Austin James Blaylock identified as a primary suspect. During a two-week period in October 2024, a restaurant, residence, and market were all targeted by burglars.
Deputies executed search warrants at two residences associated with Blaylock, recovering evidence linking him to the crimes. He was arrested and is currently being held at the Lane County Jail on charges including two counts of Burglary in the 1st Degree, four counts of Burglary in the 2nd Degree, five counts of Theft in the 1st Degree, one count of Theft in the 2nd Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree.
Authorities have also identified 33-year-old Charles Guy Younkin-Stec as an additional suspect in the burglaries. Deputies obtained a search warrant for his trailer located on Ridiculous Road. Just before the warrant was executed, Crow High School reported a burglary in which more than $10,000 in items were stolen.
During the search of Younkin-Stec’s trailer, deputies found evidence linking him to the previous burglaries, including the school and a recent RV storage facility burglary. Evidence from Linn County also connected him to a residential burglary from earlier in the summer.
Despite ongoing efforts, deputies have not been able to locate Younkin-Stec in relation to the seven burglaries. The investigation has been hindered by a lack of cooperation from local residents associated with him. His alleged actions have resulted in significant financial loss and hardship for businesses, residents, and students in the Veneta area.
Anyone with information regarding Younkin-Stec’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4141.
DUI arrest made outside County Public Service Building
EUGENE — On Jan. 15 at approximately 7:30 a.m., Lane County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 38-year-old man for driving under the influence outside the Lane County Public Service Building (PSB) at Pearl Street and 8th Avenue.
The incident began when a sheriff’s sergeant discovered an illegally parked vehicle belonging to William Ray Lighty of Junction City. Lighty had been reported the previous night as suicidal and possibly armed with a handgun, raising concern for his well-being as he appeared to be sleeping in the driver’s seat.
Responding to the situation, multiple deputies arrived on the scene and deployed a drone to assess the situation from above. Initially uncooperative, Lighty eventually complied with law enforcement instructions and was safely detained.
During a search of the vehicle, deputies found ammunition but did not locate any firearms. Observations indicated that Lighty was impaired. After a thorough investigation, he was arrested for DUI and transported to the Lane County Jail.
