Linn County Deputies Arrest Reckless Driver For Multiple Crimes -04/14/25

Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports on April 12, 2025, at 7:07 p.m., Linn County Dispatch received a 911 call where someone shot out from the window of a black Mustang at a deer in the area of Honey Sign Drive near Lebanon. The same vehicle was then reported to drive recklessly in the area, doing burnouts in the middle of the road and racing through the area.

 

At the time of the call, deputies were responding to an unrelated disturbance when the black Mustang passed them at 117mph traveling in the opposite direction towards Albany, passing vehicles in no passing zones and driving recklessly. Deputies turned around to locate the vehicle but lost sight soon after.

 

During their search, dispatch received additional calls about the black Mustang to include a hit and run where the Mustang side swiped a 2018 Mercedes and continued to leave the area. Deputies were joined by multiple law enforcement agencies in search of the Mustang. Soon after the Mercedes owner located the Mustang parked in a driveway on Goldfish Farm Road near Albany. Deputies learned three people fled from the vehicle. Deputies began to set up perimeter where drones and K9’s were requested to assist in the search.

 

Three people were located during the search. Passenger, William Franklin, 19, from Oklahoma, surrendered without incident. The second passenger Mason Guidry, 20, of Louisiana and driver Justin Franklin, 36, of Oklahoma, and father of William Franklin, were located in a nearby field they fled to in an attempt to hide. Mason surrendered without further incident, while Justin refused to cooperate and comply with commands. Due to statements and use of firearms previously, a Lebanon Police K9 was deployed to gain compliance from Justin Franklin who was taken into custody after being bit by the K9.

 

During the investigation, it was determined Justin was the driver and used an AR-15 rifle to shoot at the deer while on Honey Sign Drive.  Evidence of the shooting was seized from inside the Ford Mustang. A Palmetto State Armory AR-15 rifle was later found hidden in blackberry bushes where the occupants were first seen running into the field.  The field on Honey Sign Drive was later searched in the dark and the deer was not located. It is unknown if the deer was shot, injured, or killed.

 

Justin Franklin was transported to Albany General Hospital for treatment of the dog bites and later lodged at the Linn County Jail for Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangerment and Fail to Perform the Duties of a Driver. Linn County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Lebanon Police Department, Albany Police Department and Oregon State Police.

Linn County Sheriff Deputies Arrest Man For Online Sex Crimes (Photo) -04/08/25

Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports last night on, April 7, 2025, deputies arrested Burl Hilburn, 57, of Lebanon. Hilburn was taken into custody and lodged at the Linn County Jail for Online Sexual Corruption of a Child I (x2) and Luring a Minor (x2).

 

On March 11, 2025, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office received the report from a social media personality reporting Burl Hilburn, 57 of Lebanon, was communicating with them as they posed to be an underage male. The social media personality went to the home of Hilburn and caused a disturbance with family members, video recording people at the residence. The social media personality then called the Linn County Sheriff’s Office for help relating to the disturbance.

 

Deputies responded to the location, learned Hilburn was not home, and spoke with the social media personality to obtain details. The social media personality would not fully cooperate with deputies as they requested detailed information on the conversations with Hilburn. The social media personality would only send deputies emails of certain screenshots between them and Hilburn and denied deputies access to download their phone. Downloading the phone was important to validate messages, including receiver and sender information, and dates that the messages were sent, which are all important to the investigation and the determination of which crimes to charge, how many charges, and that the crimes fall within the statute of limitations.

 

Due to a lack of cooperation from the reporting party, deputies investigated the incident in a way to re-establish what messages had been sent by Hilburn and the social media personality through search warrants and interviews. A search warrant was served on Hilburn’s phone, and it had to be manually searched for the validated evidence needed for the case. After days of filtering through information, deputies were able to confirm Hilburn had sent sexually explicit texts and photographs to a person he believed to be a 14-year-old boy.

 

When deputies went to re-contact Hilburn, they learned the same social media personality had continued to send harassing messages to Hilburn and his family while deputies were building their investigation. Deputies had been in contact with the social media personality during the investigative process and they were aware of the continued investigation being conducted.

 

Deputies are continuing to follow up with information obtained in search warrants to identify any additional crimes or victims.

 

Linn County Sheriff’s Office and surrounding agencies have seen an increase in reports of similar private citizens (cyber-vigilantes) who conduct undercover online operations to “catch” potential predators who target minors to entice them into illegal sex acts, then call in law enforcement so they can video the arrest. Unfortunately, many of these private citizens (cyber-vigilantes) are more focused on making their videos and sensationalizing the encounter for their own attention, social media presence and sometimes money earned from their sites, and/or channels, than ensuring a proper investigation is conducted and an arrest is made safely. Without training, even well-meaning citizens cannot only endanger themselves, but also the general public, or responding law enforcement during these encounters. 

 

Even locally, we have even seen instances where actual minors are being sent to meet an alleged predator in person as “bait” or the private citizen that conducted their own investigation causing disturbances with others not involved in the crime or the suspect themselves.

 

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office takes these reports seriously and will always investigate tips of anyone preying on children. We ask that once the tip is given, let us conduct a thorough investigation.  Our goal is to collect all evidence of ALL crimes being committed, not just the ones being initially reported. Often this takes time to locate other evidence, not readily available, on these private citizen operations, such as other computers, phones, tablets, etc. This additional evidence may also lead to other real child victims that can be identified and connected to victim advocacy services, counseling, or other services to help them. Unlike some of these private citizens who call law enforcement at the last minute, our deputies are concerned about much more than wanting to just get a sensationalized moment on camera for social media. 

Linn County Sheriff's Office Arrest Two For Burglary -03/24/25

Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports on March 22, 2025 at 10:19 p.m., the Linn County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary in progress in the 36000 block of Highway 228 near Brownsville. The caller reported two people going through buildings.

 

Deputies responded to the location and located a male and female on the property. Deputies contacted the male, later identified as Ryan Rikala, 38, of Sweet Home, who fled the area after a physical altercation with the deputy. The deputy heard a loud “pop” during the altercation and believed it was from a firearm. The female, identified as Stefani Brock, 34, of Crawfordsville, was taken into custody.  

 

Deputies and additional officers from Oregon State Police and Albany Police Department quickly set up a perimeter. Deputies utilized multiple K9s and drones to search the area for Rikala. During the K9 track, a firearm was located along the route Rikala fled the area. Rikala was located in a wooded area north of the burglary where he attempted to flee again by jumping in the river and swimming to the opposite side. An additional K9 team was used and Rikala was taken into custody without further incident.

 

Rikala was lodged at the Linn County Jail for Burglary 1, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Resisting Arrest.  Brock was lodged at the Linn County Jail for Burglary 1 and Conspiracy.  

 

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Oregon State Police, Albany Police Department, Corvallis Police Department and Brownsville Fire Department.