Silverton house forfeited in pot sting
A Silverton-area house once used in by an interstate marijuana ring has been sold as part of federal forfeiture proceedings. The residence, at 17344 Powers Creek Loop NE, was among 14 property forfeitures announced April 1 in a press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Oregon.
The other houses were elsewhere in Marion as well as in Clatsop, Columbia, Linn, Multnomah and Polk counties.
The release said the houses were used as marijuan grows between August of 2020 and September of 2021 by Fayao “Paul” Rong, 53, of Texas. Rong allegedly purchased the houses using multiple identities and would transport the marijuana to Texas to sell on the black market, trafficking an estimated $13.2 million in marijuana.
When authorities raided Rong’s operation in September of 2021 they recovered 33,000 marijuana plants, 1,800 pounds of packaged marijuana and more than $591,000 in cash, according to the release.
Rong was sentenced July 19, 2023, to 30 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.
Seven years for teen abuses
A Silverton man has been sentenced to nearly seven years in prison after pleading guilty last year to sexually assaulting or harassing multiple teenage boys.
Jaiden Ethan Davis, 24, was sentenced March 29 in Marion County Circuit Court to 79 months in prison and three years of post-prison supervision. He must also register as a sex offender.
Davis pleaded guilty Sept. 25, 2023, to attempted first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, first-degree encouraging child sex abuse and four counts of luring a minor. Sentencing was delayed so Davis could engage in sex offender treatment, said prosecutors.
Between 2017 and 2019, Davis forced sexual contact on three teenage boys while they were intoxicated or asleep, according to court records. He also solicited nude photos from two other teen boys while posing as a woman.
Home invasion assault near Silverton
A Stayton man is facing multiple charges after allegedly assaulting a Silverton-area woman in her home.
Gustabo Alverto Soto, 34, was arrested April 12 for an incident that day on the 7300 block of Mount Angel Highway.
According to court records, Soto allegedly entered the victim’s residence armed with a knife with the intent to assault her in an act of domestic violence. He then allegedly strangled the victim and caused minor injuries, then caused minor injuries to a man during the same incident.
Additionally, Soto was accused of causing damage to the female victim’s car, according to court records.
He was charged in Marion County Circuit Court with first-degree burglary, strangulation, fourth-degree assault (two counts), unlawful use of a weapon, and second-degree criminal mischief. If convicted he faces up to 20 years in prison on the highest count.
As of press time Soto remained in the Marion County Jail on $50,000 bail.
Kidnapping arrest
A Silverton man is facing possible prison time after allegedly forcing a woman to travel with him against her will.
Kristopher Thomas Givens, 35, was charged in Marion County Circuit Court April 8 with second-degree kidnapping and felon in possession of a firearm.
According to charging documents, on April 6 Givens allegedly forced a woman “from one place to another” in interference with her personal liberty. He allegedly did so while in possession of a firearm, which he could not legally possess due to a 2014 felony conviction for assault.
If convicted, Givens faces at least five years and ten months in prison under Measure 11 sentencing guidelines. He was released April 10 in lieu of $50,000 bail and is due back in court May 7 to enter a plea to the charges.
New arrest for business burglaries
A Silverton man with a history of targeting local businesses is facing new burglary charges.
Shawn Nathan Curtis, 27, was charged April 10 in Marion County Circuit Court for an alleged incident at The Den food cart pod, in Silverton.
Curtis allegedly entered the facility March 19 to commit theft, according to court records. Details of potential items stolen or property damage were not disclosed.
Curtis was charged with second-degree burglary and faces up to five years in prison.
He allegedly targeted the same facility Sept. 23, 2023, and stole more than $100 in property belonging to a food cart vendor. He has been charged with second-degree burglary and second-degree theft for this incident.
In 2019 Curtis was sentenced to three months in jail and a year of probation for stealing more than $15,000 in property during multiple burglaries that January. Targets included The Oregon Garden gift shop, Silverton Community Pool and Carol’s Bookkeeping Service, as well as a private residence on Koons Street.
Garden Resort fined for sick leave policy
The Oregon Garden Resort has been ordered to pay $12,000 to a former employee over an unlawful sick leave policy, related claims of racial discrimination were dismissed.
On Feb. 22, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) published a final order awarding the sum to former kitchen manager Raul Santana.
According to the order, Santana returned from three days of sick leave June 9, 2018, and was prevented from working because he did not provide a doctor’s note stating he was fit to come back. Santana resigned the next day and said he felt forced to leave due to this and an alleged history of discrimination by his superiors due to his Mexican nationality, said the order.
The resort said it was company policy to require a doctor’s note to return after at least three days of sick leave to ensure employees were well-enough to work.
BOLI determined state law does not allow an employer to set such conditions on sick leave and the resort’s policy amounted to discrimination against those who used medical time off. In addition to the award to Santana, BOLI’s order required that the resort discontinue the policy.
BOLI also investigated Santana’s claims of racial discrimination and did not find testimony in support of these allegations to be credible, said the order.
Santana’s BOLI complaint was filed Nov. 26, 2018, and resolution was significantly delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said the order.
– Stephen Floyd
