Eight men were arrested Aug. 5 following a coordinated Southern Oregon law enforcement operation involving multiple investigations into alleged child exploitation.
The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET), working with the Oregon Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and other agencies, conducted arrests throughout Jackson County, including Medford, Talent, White City and Central Point. One suspect was arrested in Washington state.
Authorities emphasized that the eight cases are not connected.
The suspects face a combined 71 felony counts of encouraging child sexual abuse, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Eric Richard Rand, 58, of Medford, was arrested on three counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse and 11 counts of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse.
Charles Harvey McMillan, 33, of Talent, was arrested on 10 counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse.
Jermaine “JJ” Owens, 53, of Medford, was arrested after a Medford Police officer reportedly located him sleeping in a vehicle at Holmes Park. Owens faces charges including first- and second-degree online sexual corruption of a child, second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse and luring a minor.
Joel Vincente Leal, 21, of Medford, was arrested on eight counts of first-degree and two counts of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse.
Robert Paul Phillips, 74, of rural Central Point, was arrested on 10 counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse.
Nathan Chet Wilson, 25, of Medford, was arrested on 10 counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. Authorities said his father, Tracy Lynn Wilson, 58, allegedly attempted to intervene during the arrest and was charged with interfering with a peace officer.
Cannon Garrett Green, 31, of White City, was arrested on nine counts of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse.
The eighth suspect, Jeremy Paul Maeder, 32, of Talent, was arrested by the Island County Sheriff’s Office in Washington. Authorities said he is expected to be extradited to Oregon to face seven counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse.
According to investigators, many of the cases began with tips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Investigations subsequently involved subpoenas and search warrants at individual residences.
Digital devices seized during the investigations were examined by the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force. SOCET investigators later presented the individual cases to a grand jury, after which arrest warrants were issued.
Numerous local, state and federal agencies assisted with the operation, including sheriff’s offices, police departments, Oregon State Police, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Marshals Service.
SOCET was established in 2020 as a multi-agency task force focused on investigating child exploitation in Southern Oregon.
The charges are allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
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