One Shots Fired Call Leads To Deputies Arresting Two Separate Suspects - 05/01/26

JCSO Cases 26-2180, 26-2182

GOLD HILL, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies arrested two unrelated suspects following a shots fired menacing call Thursday, April 30 at 8:44 p.m. Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon (ECSO) 911 dispatch received a report that a man confronted a driver on Gold Ray Road, yelling about her speed before firing a gun into the ground and then toward her.

As deputies responded, they spotted a truck matching the suspect description leaving the area at a high rate of speed. Deputies initiated a pursuit, and the vehicle fled toward Gold Hill. The truck was successfully disabled with spike strips but continued northbound on I-5 on its rims. The vehicle eventually stopped, and the driver fled on foot. Deputies quickly outperformed the driver and arrested him.

The driver, Jay William Oncher-Fontaine, 38, of Wolf Creek, had multiple felony warrants and showed signs of impairment. He was lodged in the Jackson County Jail on his warrants, as well as charges of elude, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, reckless driving, and additional offenses.

After the arrest, deputies determined Oncher-Fontaine was not involved in the shooting. Deputies returned to the area and located a second truck matching the original description. A traffic stop was conducted, and Frank Pennisi, 28, of Bandon, was arrested.

A search of the vehicle revealed two firearms. Pennisi admitted to shooting in the area and being angered by drivers traveling too fast. He was lodged in the Jackson County Jail on charges of menacing, unlawful use of a weapon, and reckless endangering.

JCSO deputies were assisted by the Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon State Police, Central Point Police Department, and Rogue River Police Department. Both cases remain under investigation. No additional information is available at this time. 

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Jackson County To Conduct Annual Jackson Alerts And Emergency Alert System Test On May 1 - 04/29/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jackson County, Ore. – Jackson County Emergency Management will conduct its annual pre-fire season test of the Jackson Alerts mass notification system on Friday, May 1^st, 2026, beginning at 10:00 a.m. and concluding by 12:00 p.m.

This annual test helps ensure emergency alerting systems are functioning properly ahead of wildfire season and provides residents an opportunity to become familiar with how alerts are received. The Jackson Alerts test message will be sent only to individuals who have registered to receive alerts.

As part of the test, a live Emergency Alert System (EAS) message will also be broadcast via local radio and cable television.

Jackson County uses pre-designated evacuation zones to issue wildfire evacuation notices. Residents are encouraged to identify their zone in advance to be better prepared during an emergency. Please visit https://protect.genasys.com/search to find your zone.

How to Prepare

• Sign up for emergency alerts through Jackson Alerts
• Look up your evacuation zone using Genasys Protect
• Learn what Oregon’s evacuation levels mean — Level 1 Be Ready, Level 2 Be Set, and Level 3 Go Now! — at https://wildfire.oregon.gov/pages/evacuations.aspx

Community members who do not receive a test alert on May 1^st  may not be registered in the system and are encouraged to sign up.

About Jackson Alerts

Jackson Alerts is the official emergency notification system for Jackson County, used to deliver time-sensitive information during emergencies such as wildfires, severe weather, and other hazards. For more information, to sign up for Jackson Alerts, or to learn your evacuation zone, visit: www.readyjacksonco.com

Media Contact:
Delaney Richmond

jacksonem@jacksoncountyor.gov
Emergency Manager
Jackson County Emergency Management

Oregon DOJ, Local Joint Task Force Serves Ashland Search Warrant For Child Sexual Abuse Material (Photo) - 04/16/26

ODOJ Case: CJD0664-25

ASHLAND, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Justice’s (ODOJ) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, along with the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) served a search warrant yesterday morning in South Ashland. Investigators served the search warrant after discovering Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) images were uploaded from the address. Investigators interviewed possible witnesses and involved parties, and investigations are ongoing. 

ODOJ ICAC and SOCET served the search warrant Wednesday, April 15 at a residence on Neil Creek Road in Ashland. ODOJ ICAC and SOCET began their investigation after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which led to subpoenas, followed by the search warrant at the residence.

SOCET was assisted by Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), Medford Police Department (MPD), ODOJ ICAC and IMET. During the warrant, investigators seized digital devices which will be forensically examined by ODOJ Forensics for further evidence of child exploitation.

SOCET is a joint inter-agency task force that started in June of 2020 to combat child exploitation. The task force consists of investigators from JCSO, MPD, ODOJ ICAC, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as well as prosecutors from our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners in Jackson County. SOHTCTF is a joint inter-agency task force that consists of investigators from JCSO, HSI, and MPD.

Investigators continue to examine seized devices and interview witnesses as the investigation moves forward. No further details will be released at this time.

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office SVU Detectives Arrest Prospect Man On Five Child Sex Crime Charges (Photo) - 04/15/26

JCSO Case 26-0545

PROSPECT, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) Special Victims Unit (SVU) detectives arrested a Prospect man this morning on five charges of child sex crimes. The suspect, Mickey Lee Ryan Jr., 35, of Prospect is charged with first-degree rape, two counts of first-degree sodomy, and two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. He is lodged in the Jackson County Jail.

JCSO detectives arrested Ryan without incident just before 10 AM on Wednesday, April 15, at a trailer park in the 400 block of Mill Creek Drive in Prospect. Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Welfare caseworkers from Jackson and Josephine counties assisted. This case is open and ongoing. There is no further information for release at this time.

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Joint Task Force, Eagle Point Police Serves Child Sexual Abuse Material Search Warrant In Eagle Point (Photo) - 04/14/26

EPPD Case 25-0581

EAGLE POINT, Ore. – The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) along with Eagle Point Police Department (EPPD) and the Oregon Department of Justice’s (ODOJ) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forceserved a search warrant this morning in Eagle Point. Investigators served the search warrant after discovering Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) images were uploaded from the address. Investigators interviewed possible witnesses and involved parties, and investigations are ongoing.

SOCET served the search warrant Tuesday, April 14 at a residence on Chantrell Court in Eagle Point. SOCET and EPPD began their investigation after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which led to subpoenas, followed by the search warrant at the residence. 

SOCET was assisted by Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Medford Police Department (MPD), ODOJ ICAC, EPPD, and the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force (SOHTCTF). During the warrant, investigators seized digital devices which will be forensically examined by SOHTCTF for further evidence of child exploitation. 

SOCET is a joint inter-agency task force that started in June of 2020 to combat child exploitation. The task force consists of investigators from JCSO, MPD, ODOJ ICAC, and HSI, as well as prosecutors from our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners in Jackson County. SOHTCTF is a joint inter-agency task force that consists of investigators from JCSO, HSI, and MPD.

Investigators continue to examine seized devices and interview witnesses as the investigation moves forward. No further details will be released at this time.

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Missing Man Found Deceased At Lower Table Rock Cliffs (Photo) - 04/09/26

EDIT: Fixed error on date reported.

Video available for download: https://vimeo.com/1181774216?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

JCSO Case 26-1736

CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) is investigating an incident where a 28-year-old man died at the Lower Table Rock on Tuesday, April 7. JCSO Search and Rescue (SAR) received the report from ECSO Dispatch at 9:38 PM of a man missing and last seen at the Lower Table Rock trail. Wednesday morning JCSO SAR deputies and volunteers located the man deceased from an apparent fall from the Lower Table Rock cliffs. SAR coordinated the recovery of his body.

This case is under investigation. At this time the death appears to be non-criminal and there is no evidence of foul play. Next of kin has been notified. Our condolences go out to the man’s family and friends. We will not be releasing decedent information out of respect for the family’s privacy in this difficult time. There is no further information available for release.

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