Operation Sentinel (Photo) -03/12/25

Release Date: March 12, 2025

INCIDENT: Operation Sentinel - Sex Offender Compliance and Outstanding Warrant Sweep

INCIDENT DATE: March 6-10, 2025

REPORTING DEPUTY: Undersheriff Travis Snyder           

DETAILS:

From March 6-10, 2025, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office executed a multi-agency, County wide sex offender compliance and outstanding warrant sweep. The operation, dubbed Operational Sentinel, targeted sex offenders and individuals with outstanding felony and misdemeanor warrants, including repeat offenders, violent offenders, and those who fled to avoid prosecution or absconded from justice. The operation was executed with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service – Pacific Northwest Violent Offenders Task Force (USMS - PNVOTF), Oregon State Police Sex Offender Registration Section, Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (R.A.D.E), Josephine County Parole and Probation, the Grants Pass Police Department (GPPD), Oregon State Police Grants Pass Command, Oregon State Police Central Point Command, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office.

The compliance checks conducted in Operation Sentinel included door to door verification of addresses reported by offenders as their residences, to confirm or deny the validity of their registrations. By conducting this operation, the risk of recidivism is reduced, and the accuracy of the database is improved, making it a more valuable tool for keeping our community safe.

Operation Sentinel Results:

• 624 Compliance Checks
• 45 Sex Offender Registrations post contact
• 87 Actions taken against offenders
• 19 Felony Warrant Arrests
• 3 Probationary Detainers
• 5 Misdemeanor Warrant Arrests
• 1 Probable Cause Arrest for a Stolen Firearm
• 5.8 grams of Methamphetamine, 4.3 grams of Fentanyl Seized

Notable arrests during Operation Sentinel:

Gary Carden, who possesses an extensive criminal history, was wanted out of Florida on weapons related charges.  The Pacific Northwest Violent Offenders Task Force located Carden with the help of the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police Grants Pass Command and took him into custody without incident.

After a month-long investigation, an offender was taken into custody for failure to register as a sex offender. The offender had moved from out of state and resided in Josephine County for over 6 months without coming into compliance. He was located, arrested, and registered. Las Vegas Metro Police, Oregon State Police Grants Pass Command, and Oregon State Police Sex Offender Registration Section were integral to the success of his apprehension.

The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to protecting with courage and serving with compassion as we work to ensure all offenders in the county are brought to justice and all sex offenders are in compliance to increase safety for the public.

Fatal Motorcycle Crash -03/12/25

RELEASE DATE: March 12^th, 2025  

INCIDENT: Fatal Motorcycle Crash

CASE NUMBER: 25-5556

INCIDENT DATE AND TIME:  March 10^th, 2025 at 6:03am

REPORTING DEPUTY:  Lieutenant Jim Geiger

DECEASED : Jesse Louis Tillett  22 year-old male

VEHICLE:  2003 Suzuki Sport Bike

DETAILS: On March 10^th at 6:03am, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response responded to a motorcycle crash in the 2500 block of Granite Hill Road. 

The motorcycle and the rider, Jesse Louis Tillett, were both found off the roadway.  Tillett was deceased when located.  Initial investigation shows the vehicle failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway and struck several trees.  Tillett was wearing a helmet. 

Next of kin has been notified. 

Drunk Driver Arrested After Collision With Fire Engine In Cave Junction (Photo) -02/27/25

RELEASE DATE: February 27, 2025

INCIDENT: DUII Crash

INCIDENT DATE: February 26, 2025

CASE NUMBER: 25-4354
 

REPORTING DEPUTY: Lieutenant Jim Geiger

ARRESTED: Alec James Varner, 63 Years Old

CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants

DETAILS: On February 26, 2025, at approximately 11:47am, deputies from the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to a traffic crash at the 76 Gas Station in Cave Junction. A private vehicle collided with an Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD) engine that was on-site for refueling.

Upon arrival, deputies determined that the driver of the private vehicle, identified as Alec Varner, exhibited signs of intoxication. Field sobriety tests were conducted, leading to the driver's arrest for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII).

Both vehicles sustained minor damage; no injuries were reported. The IVFD engine remains operational and will continue to serve the community without interruption.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office emphasizes the dangers of impaired driving and urges all motorists to make responsible choices to ensure the safety of our community.

UPDATE: International Apprehension Of Wanted Subject -02/26/25

2/26/25 UPDATE: The US Marshals Service retrieved Shawn Higbee from Cambodia and brought him to San Francisco, CA where he was picked up by Josephine County Sheriff's Office Deputies and lodged in the Josephine County Adult Jail.

*

*

*

12/31/24 Original Information:

RELEASE DATE: December 31, 2024
INCIDENT: International Apprehension of Wanted Subject
INCIDENT DATE: December 17th, 2024
REPORTING DEPUTY: Detective Sergeant Henrich
ARRESTED: Shawn Christian Higbee, DOB: 05/29/1983
CHARGES: Sodomy 1

DETAILS: Over the last several months, our Josephine County Sheriff's Office Crimes Analyst has been working with the United States Marshals Service (USMS) in an attempt to locate a wanted subject, Shawn Higbee, for the crime of Sodomy 1.

Higbee has had an arrest warrant out of Josephine County since 2019. Higbee had been able to evade apprehension. It was discovered by our analyst that Higbee had fled to Cambodia and had been there for several years. Higbee's exact location was pinpointed in Cambodia, through the dedicated hard work, training and experience of the analyst. That information was relayed to the USMS, who turned the information over to their international apprehension team.

On December 17th, 2024, Higbee was taken into custody. Higbee is currently lodged in a Cambodian jail and is awaiting extradition back to the United States. Once in country, he will be transported to the Josephine County Jail to face further prosecution regarding the crime of Sodomy 1.

At the time of this press release no further details are being released.

Update: Located - Missing Person: Morris, Wayne (Photo) -02/25/25

UPDATE 2/25/25 10:00am - Wayne has been located safely. 

*

*

*

Date of Report: 02/24/2025

Case: 25-4214

Name: Wayne David Morris

Age: 76

Sex: Male

Race: White

Height: 5'5"

Weight: 180

Hair: Gray

Eyes: Blue

Information: Wayne was reported missing late Monday night.  He was last seen on Vine Street around 3:00pm on 2/24/25. He was driving a gray 2020 Chevrolet Silverado with OR license plate 593MMB. The OnStar app shows the vehicle's last known location to be in the Hog Creek area around 4:30pm later that day.  SAR has been activated.

Please contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office with any information.  

Phone: 541-474-5123

UPDATE: LOCATED Missing: Burks, Kristina M (Photo) -02/18/25

2/16/2025 UPDATE: KRISTINA HAS BEEN LOCATED SAFELY.

*

*

*

Josephine County Sheriff's Office Case Number 22002571

Name: Burks, Kristina M.

Age: 37

Sex: Female

Race: Caucasian

Height: 5'5" 

Weight: 180

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Hazel 

On December 1, 2022, Kristina Burks was reported missing by her parents. She was last seen in the Murphy area but has been known to frequent all of Josephine County. She normally stays in contact with family, however she has not been heard from for over a month. She is currently believed to be homeless.

Please contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office with any information. 

Please reference case # 22002571

Office: 541-474-5123

Bitcoin Scams (Photo) -02/18/25

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office receives numerous reports of people being scammed into buying Bitcoin.  The bad actors of these scams are very convincing.  Scams include, but are not limited to, PayPal, Norton Antivirus, LifeLock, pretending to be financial institutions and Law Enforcement.  Scammers may want access to your computer, claim you have warrants, or say a loved one is in trouble.  They may also provide convincing documents showing deposits into your accounts or give sob stories that they will get in trouble or lose their jobs.

We understand that hearing facts about your life, home or family can be unnerving and can aid in their attempt to appear legitimate. Much of your information is readily available online such as full names, birth dates, phone numbers, addresses and photos of your home.  Scammers use this information to make themselves believable.  Once they have convinced you that they are legitimate they will have you deposit money into a Bitcoin machine.  These machines are located at numerous locations such as grocery stores, mini markets and various other places.  The scammers may keep you on the phone while you are withdrawing money and depositing it into the machines.

If you are contacted by one of these scammers take note of these "red flags" and stop.  Talk to your bank, law enforcement or trusted friend before withdrawing money or making deposits.  If someone insists that Bitcoin or gift cards are the only form of payment that is accepted, then something is definitely wrong!  

If you think there is a possibility of any truth to their claims against you, tell them you will call them back and hang up the phone.  DO NOT call back the number they provide.  Instead look up the business phone number yourself and call to verify any claims.

You can report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission here: ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Missing Runaway - Herren, William -02/13/25

UPDATE 2/13/25: WILLIAM HAS BEEN LOCATED.

*

*

*

Missing Runaway - William Herren

Case: 25-1199

Age: 15

Sex: Male

Race: White

Height: 5'5"

Weight: 130

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Blue

Information: On January 16, 2025, William Herren was reported as a runaway from the Cave Junction area. There is concern he will try to travel to Portland. He may be trying to conceal his face with a blue or black bandana. He is wearing clothing similar to the above photo and may have a black backpack with him.

Please contact Josephine County Sheriff's Office with any information.  541-474-5123