Eight Suspects Arrested in Jackson County Child Exploitation Sweep
The coordinated operation resulted in 71 felony counts across eight separate investigations in Southern Oregon.
JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — Eight local suspects were arrested Wednesday as part of a coordinated child exploitation enforcement operation involving local, state, and federal agencies.
The operation involved suspects from Medford, Talent, White City, and rural Central Point. Arrests occurred in Medford, Talent, rural Central Point, and Washington. Another suspect from Talent was arrested in Washington and is expected to be returned to Oregon.
Eric Rand: Officers arrest Eric Richard Rand, 58, of Medford. Rand faces three felony counts of first degree encouraging child sexual abuse and 11 counts of second degree encouraging child sexual abuse. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
The cases are separate and are not believed to be connected, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Together, the eight suspects face 71 felony counts of encouraging child sexual abuse. One suspect also faces charges of online sexual corruption of a child and luring a minor.
Eight Arrests Across Jackson County
The operation began around 6:30 a.m. when Jackson County sheriff’s deputies stopped Eric Richard Rand, 58, near his home in the 1500 block of Clear Springs Drive in Medford.
Rand was arrested on three felony counts of first degree encouraging child sexual abuse and 11 counts of second degree encouraging child sexual abuse.
About 10 minutes later, investigators arrested Charles Harvey McMillan, 33, at his home on Taylor Avenue in Talent. He faces 10 felony counts of first degree encouraging child sexual abuse.
Shortly before 8 a.m., Medford police located Jermaine “JJ” Owens, 53, sleeping inside a vehicle at Holmes Park. Owens was arrested on charges of first and second degree online sexual corruption of a child, second degree encouraging child sexual abuse, and luring a minor.
At approximately 8:04 a.m., investigators arrested Joel Vincente Leal, 21, at an apartment in the 1000 block of Spring Street in Medford. Leal faces eight felony counts of first degree encouraging child sexual abuse and two counts of second degree encouraging child sexual abuse.
Investigators then arrested Robert Paul Phillips, 74, at his home in the 300 block of West Gregory Road near Central Point. Phillips faces 10 felony counts of first degree encouraging child sexual abuse.
At approximately 8:20 a.m., officers arrested Nathan Chet Wilson, 25, at an apartment complex in the 600 block of Northwood Drive in Medford. Wilson faces 10 felony counts of first degree encouraging child sexual abuse.
During Wilson’s arrest, investigators said his father, Tracy Lynn Wilson, 58, attempted to interfere. He was arrested on a separate charge of interfering with a peace officer.
Investigators later contacted Cannon Garrett Green, 31, of White City, at a business in the 200 block of Holly Street in Medford. Green faces nine felony counts of second degree encouraging child sexual abuse.
Jeremy Paul Maeder, 32, of Talent, was arrested in Washington by the Island County Sheriff’s Office. He faces seven felony counts of first degree encouraging child sexual abuse and is expected to be extradited to Oregon.
Tips Led to Digital Investigations
Many of the investigations began with tips submitted to the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Investigators used those tips to obtain subpoenas and search warrants for the suspects’ homes. Digital devices were seized and later examined under additional warrants by the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force.
The cases were then presented to a grand jury, and arrest warrants were issued.
The coordinated operation involved the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon Department of Justice, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, Oregon State Police, and police departments in Medford, Ashland, Central Point, Eagle Point, and Talent.
The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team was formed in 2020 and includes investigators and prosecutors from local, state, and federal agencies serving Jackson and Josephine counties.
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