Media Board

Recent media releases from the Benton County Sheriff's Office are listed below. To read past media releases, go to the "Supporting Documents" section of this web page.

Sheriff's Office DUII Enforcement Results and Upcoming Saturation Patrol

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office participated in an extra DUII saturation patrol, October 25 through November 1, 2018, to coincide with Halloween and the weekend leading up to the holiday.

During those dates, deputies arrested eight drivers for DUII (alcohol), completed one Drug Recognition Expert Evaluation, and issued two Minor in Possession of Alcohol citations. Deputies issued 28 citations for traffic violations, with seven of them for speeding and three for driving while suspended.

The Sheriff’s Office will be participating in extra DUII saturation patrol November 23 through November 24, 2018 to coincide with the Oregon State University and University of Oregon Civil War football game.

Driver impairment and speeding are the most common causes of injury crashes. Oregon’s DUII enforcement program is committed to reducing the amount of crashes and impaired drivers on our roadways by keeping them off the roadway, and arresting them when they choose to drive. For more info on impaired driving, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.com.

Benton County Sheriff's Office Community Notification

The Benton County Sheriff's Office is notifying the public that a Level 3 sex offender has been released into the community from the Department of Corrections.

James Crotsley, aged 52, was released from prison on November 7, 2018. He is on Post-Prison Supervision for Sodomy in the First Degree until June 1, 2019.

Crotsley is a white male, 6’1” tall, 200 pounds in weight, has brown hair, and brown eyes.

He will be living at the Benton County Transition Center at 555 NW Monroe Street, Corvallis, OR 97330. He is to have no contact with minors and is not to frequent places where minors congregate such as playgrounds, schools, arcades, library, churches, or community pools.

Special conditions for Crotsley’s release also include: no computer or internet access; no direct or indirect contact with his victims; and no use or possession of alcohol. He must be on a GPS monitor, submit to polygraph examinations, and has an 8:00pm curfew.

In the past Crotsley targeted adult females known and unknown to him and single females who have minor children.

To report any misconduct or violation, please notify Benton County Community Corrections Deputy, Shawna Johnson, at 541-766-6228 or Shawna.johnson@co.benton.or.us. For an emergency, please call 911.

Juvenile Plots to Kill Parents

On Saturday, October 27, 2018, Benton County Sheriff’s Office Deputies took a 14-year-old male from Albany into custody on two charges of Attempted Aggravated Murder and Attempted Arson in the First Degree. Two days later, his 13-year-old male accomplice was taken into custody on two counts of Attempted Aggravated Murder, for the substantial steps he took toward aiding his friend in the crime.

Neither of the juveniles have criminal histories. The 14-year-old was booked and lodged at the Linn-Benton Detention Center in Linn County on Saturday night. The 13-year-old was interviewed on Monday afternoon, admitted to giving his friend the sleep aid medication to kill his parents, and was subsequently taken into custody and lodged at the same detention center.

A call to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office was initially made on October 25. A concerned father had information received that his son wanted to give him and his wife sleeping pills and light the house on fire to kill them.

Several additional friends were reportedly aware of the son’s plot.

We are asking juveniles to report suspicious activity, anonymously, to Safe Oregon at 844-472-3367 or tip@safeoregon.com. We also remind the community if they see something, say something.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information is asked to contact Benton County Sheriff’s Office at 541-766-6858.

Man Dies in Logging Accident

On October 26, 2018, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a logging accident near the town of Alsea, Oregon.

A 911 call came in at approximately 8:40 am after a log rolled on two men while working for Wiest Logging, on an active logging site, off Lobster Valley Road near Alsea, Oregon.

An air ambulance was immediately requested, but declined due to bad weather conditions.

Hector Rodarte, 27-years-old, from Monmouth, Oregon was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Ricky Payton, 29-years-old, of Independence, Oregon, was hoisted out of a steep ravine by First Responders and transported to Good Sam Regional Medical Center in Corvallis, Oregon.

Corvallis Mountain Rescue, Corvallis Fire Department, Alsea Rural Fire, Weist Logging Employees and Benton County Sheriff's Office Deputies assisted in the rescue.

Investigation is continuing.

Benton County Sheriff's Office Community Notification

The Benton County Sheriff's Office is notifying the public that a Level 3 sex offender has been released into the community.

Jacob Robert Smith, aged 26, was released from the Department of Corrections on October 23, 2018. He is on Post-Prison Supervision for Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree until October 22, 2021.

Smith is a white male, 5’8” tall, 150 pounds in weight, has blonde hair, and blue eyes.

Special conditions for Smith’s release also include: no computer or internet access, no direct or indirect contact with his victims, and no use or possession of alcohol. He must be on a GPS monitor, submit to polygraph examinations, and has an 8:00pm curfew.

In the past Smith targeted early to mid-teen females usually known to him. His prior sexual convictions include Rape III.

To report any misconduct or violation, please notify Benton County Sheriff's Office Parole & Probation Deputy, Shawna Johnson, at 541-766-6228 or shawna.johnson@co.benton.or.us. For an emergency, please call 911.