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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Criminal charges won't be filed in pedestrian death From social media: the Rogue Valley storm UPDATED: Man killed by falling tree while camping near Mount Ashland UPDATED: Overnight storm causes widespread damage, disruptions UPDATED: Wind, downed trees wreak havoc in Rogue Valley Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Criminal charges won't be filed in pedestrian death From social media: the Rogue Valley storm UPDATED: Man killed by falling tree while camping near Mount Ashland UPDATED: Overnight storm causes widespread damage, disruptions UPDATED: Wind, downed trees wreak havoc in Rogue Valley Politics and Elections Time running out for O&C funds GMO vote recount still shows little change GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means East Medford's the charm Education A lesson in giving Hedrick student council works to clean up the language Table Rock solid: Elementary school praised for keeping attendance up Eagle Point superintendent invited to White House Eagle Point secures perimeter of Table Rock Elementary with new fence Environment Coalition asks for defense of GMO ban Home Help: Make your new house feel like home Bighorn sheep reintroduced along Klamath River Jackson County judge dismisses one Mt. View Paving case Advisory warns of blue-green algae bloom at Lost Creek Lake State News Tribes can decide whether to legalize pot Lawyer says football player had altercation Congress keeps Coast Guard helicopter flying U of O, grad teachers reach deal Oregon seeks steward to buy Elliott forest Nation - World Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries Johnny William James Linda Katherine Heitkamp Mary Louise France Carolyn Sue Corzine Death Notices Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Warriors keep on rolling Columbia gives No. 1 Kentucky a scare Wiggins, Wolves stun Blazers 90-82 OSU’s hire is a game-changer Andersen to OSU Varsity 541 College Sports Columbia gives No. 1 Kentucky a scare OSU’s hire is a game-changer Andersen to OSU Raiders land at 13th in postseason NAIA Top 25 Hall of Fame welcomes Bellotti Pro Sports Warriors keep on rolling Wiggins, Wolves stun Blazers 90-82 Bryant's late flurry lifts Lakers Blazers make it five straight Browns make the move, will start Manziel Community Sports Keeping Fit: Runners need to do more than run to stay in shape RESULTS/STANDINGS LOCAL EVENTS Business Latest Stories Blog: It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like... K-BAR ignites agriculture boom beneath Table Rocks State lags on grocery inspections Blog: Bear Creek Plaza next up on the market Silvio Calabi: The world loves a Wrangler Real Estate News More sales, but no change in residential housing median price Dear Monty: Violation of HOA rules creates conflict Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban People In Business People in Business, Dec. 3 People in Business, Nov. 18 Transportation Allegiant Air will resume Medford-Phoenix service May 22 Agriculture K-BAR ignites agriculture boom beneath Table Rocks Southern Oregon wine industry had a robust 2013 Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Lawsuit seeks to overturn Jackson County's GMO ban or net $4.2 million for farms Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Opinion Latest Granlund cartoon: Flu shots less effective this year Jim Brock: We can move beyond torture Our View: Sentencing reform pays dividends Letters to the Editor, Dec. 11 Dana Milbank: Jonathan Gruber's bad day Editorials Our View: Sentencing reform pays dividends Our View: Find middle ground on timber policy Our View: Making sense of Medford crime numbers Our View: Land takeover a sincere but empty gesture Other Views: OSU rape case is a teaching opportunity Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Dec. 11 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 10 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 9 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 8 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 7 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Guest Opinion: It's time Oregon put a price on carbon Guest Opinion: Are we the preferred path to global devastation? Guest Opinion: Fight for the rights of independent voters will continue Lifestyle Latest stories Progress on Prescott Park Gail Ciampa: Cookbook looks at food’s place in Jewish culture, history Religion news: Atheists launch holiday advertising campaign in Deep South Marketta Gregory: There is only one enemy Community blog: Choose presents cooks can cherish, not regift Food Community blog: Choose presents cooks can cherish, not regift Roasted vegetables are rich, flavorful Food for Thought: Meal-planning hacks to help you dine fast and healthy Kitchen Call: Hints for gluten-free holidays Community blog: Merry Christmas 10 Barrel! (Big Brewery vs Small Independent Brewer) Home and Garden Remodeling your attic: Know the details before you start Dear Monty: When a lawyer’s fee is four times higher than the quote Home Help: Make your new house feel like home Troubleshoot common water boiler problems Dear Monty: Ten helpful home-listing tips Health Community blog: Unsubscribe.com Community blog: Redefining Family Dr. Murray Feingold: Say it like you mean it Community blog: Guiltless Holidays Better for our Health HealthStyle: Develop an attitude of gratitude Hiking Biking Faith Religion news: Pope aims to expedite sex abuse rulings Religion news: Seattle-based mega-church dissolves Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Time running out for O&C funds Hire 'em and pray for snow Madi-Stiles A New Song Rogers-Horn Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Gypsy Soul performs WinterSpring benefit This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist It's a Hamazon holiday at the Playwright Public House TMTO presents 'A Christmas Carol: The Musical' Andy McKee plays Rogue Theatre Theater This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist Plumbing the depths of meaning TMTO presents 'A Christmas Carol: The Musical' Theater review: 'Fiddler' charms audience in magical Camelot performance Bedford Falls comes to life at Randall Music Gypsy Soul performs WinterSpring benefit Andy McKee plays Rogue Theatre SOU presents all-percussion concert Shae Johnson releases 'Can You Feel the Music' Jeff Kloetzel releases 'Long Time Coming' Community Events It's a Hamazon holiday at the Playwright Public House 4 Things to do this Week Soroptimist holiday home tour features four houses this weekend Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists 2014 Providence Festival of Trees Dining Ooblies Artisan Waffle Sandwiches Brunch at Loft Brasserie The Bohemian Club Thanksgiving comes early at Taprock Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Medford police arrest two in connection with Monday's gunfire in west Medford ... Criminal charges won't be filed in pedestrian death ... From social media: the Rogue Valley storm ... Medford police arrest two in connection with Monday's gunfire in west Medford ... Criminal charges won't be filed in pedestrian death ... From social media: the Rogue Valley storm ... THREE-YEAR PRISON TERM California man sentenced for gun trafficking A California man has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for his role in a Southern Oregon gun trafficking scheme. By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Oct. 3, 2014 @ 4:10 pm By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Oct. 3, 2014 @ 4:10 pm » Social News A California man has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for his role in a Southern Oregon gun trafficking scheme in which a woman bought firearms on his behalf — including three at Grants Pass businesses — in exchange for drugs.  Charles Thornton, 39, of Patterson, Calif., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Eugene to three counts of making false statements in connection with the acquisition of firearms and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and was given a sentence of 41 months.  Federal prosecutors alleged that Thornton dealt crack-cocaine and recruited an addict named Eleanor Arceneaux to purchase firearms for him in exchange for crack. Over a several-month period beginning in August 2008, Arceneaux bought 35 guns for Thornton and others, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. In the purchases Thornton was involved in, he would allegedly accompany her to the firearms dealer, give her money for the guns, and tell her which ones to buy.  The indictment named five Southern Oregon businesses where purchases occurred, including Grants Pass dealers Pawn Plus LLC, Russco Guns and Northwest Cash & Pawn.  Several of those guns later turned up at crime scenes in Oakland, Calif., prosecutors said. According to the indictment, the guns included 9mm, .40-caliber and .45-caliber pistols.  In a sentencing memo filed in court, Thornton's attorney Robert Schrank said Thornton was born and raised in Oakland by a single mother, and began hanging out on the streets and getting into trouble at a young age. In 2007, he moved to Medford, where a cousin lived, and tried to get his life together but ended up using drugs again. He met Arceneaux and the two began working together on the straw purchases.  After the crimes occurred, Thornton moved back to California where his 10-year-old son lives, and enrolled in a vocational program studying heating, ventilating and air conditioning.  Thornton wrote in the memo, "I've come to realize that in order to be forgiven, I must first be forgiving to others and myself. Now, my primary goal is to be there for my son, and not have him venture down the same paths that I have traveled." Arceneaux pleaded guilty in June to one count of conspiracy to straw purchase firearms and nine counts of making false statements in connection with the acquisition of firearms, and was sentenced to five years' probation.  The investigation was spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  In July, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office announced that 31 people had been indicted in connection with another, separate, straw-buying investigation. The investigation was sparked by the June 2013 death of 5-year-old Alysa Bobbitt, who was killed when a man named John Meyer accidentally fired shots from an SKS military-style rifle through the ceiling of a Grants Pass apartment, hitting the young girl, who was in an upstairs room.  Meyer was determined to be a firearms straw buyer — someone who purchases guns on behalf of another person, thereby concealing the true recipient's identity — and the examination of his activities triggered the larger investigation. As a result, authorities said they uncovered two murder plots, and also indicated that some of the guns purchased fraudulently in Southern Oregon ended up at California crime scenes.  A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office was not immediately able to confirm whether the two investigations had any links to each other. By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Oct. 3, 2014 @ 4:10 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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