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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 18, 2005 Crime spree ends with arrest of sex offender, juveniles By CHRIS CONRAD Mail Tribune Kathy Parsons doesn’t understand why her 14-year-old granddaughter fell in with a convicted sex offender who police say was at the center of a string of home and business burglaries in northeast Jackson County. All that matters now to Parsons is that the girl is safe at home after two weeks on the run from her grandmother’s Talent home. Parsons believes her granddaughter met 20-year-old Marcos Anthony Meredith around Halloween. Meredith was convicted a year ago of second- and third-degree sex abuse. At some point, the teen ran away with him and two other juveniles, Parsons said. Shortly after Halloween, Jackson County sheriff’s deputies began investigating a string of burglaries and vehicle thefts in Butte Falls, Union Creek and Prospect, Sheriff Mike Winters said. At around 8:20 a.m. Thursday, someone reported seeing a suspicious car parked in front of the Midway Country Store in Eagle Point. Several deputies who were working the burglary cases were in the area. The car, which had been reported stolen, sped off heading north on Crowfoot Road when the deputies approached the store, Winters said. Advertisement The short-lived chase ended when the car veered off the road and became stuck in a driveway. Meredith, whose last known address was the 1700 block of Mill Creek Road in Prospect, and a male juvenile fled on foot. Parson’s granddaughter and another female juvenile remained near the car and were taken into custody, Winters said. Meredith and his partner later attempted to steal another car parked at a residence, deputies said. One of them accidentally honked the car’s horn, alerting the homeowner, who called the police, Winters said. The duo abandoned the car and fled north on foot along a creek. Winters dispatched a police helicopter to track them. At some point, Meredith and the juvenile tried to bury themselves under a pile of leaves to escape the helicopter. Josephine County sheriff’s deputies arrived with a police dog and began scouring the area. It only took a few minutes for the dog to find the two, Winters said. Meredith was armed with a loaded Glock pistol at the time of his arrest. He was taken into custody and lodged without bail in the Jackson County Jail on a probation violation. More charges are pending, Winters said. All of the juveniles were lodged in the Jackson County Juvenile Detention Facility. Parsons’ granddaughter was later released to her family. Winters is glad to see the two-week crime spree come to an end. Detectives conducted extensive interviews with Meredith all day Thursday. "We’re going to be able to tie them to at least three stolen vehicles," Winters said. "This is going to allow us to clear a long list of property crimes." The experience has left Parsons shaken and confused. She wants to know what caused her granddaughter, who she described as a good student who has never been in any kind of trouble prior to this, to make such a terrible decision two weeks ago. "I don’t know how she got hooked up with these people," Parsons said. "She’s never even had a boyfriend or been on a date." The girl’s mother, who lives in Eugene, made the trip Thursday down to Talent to be with her daughter. For now, the girl is at home and resting. Parsons described her as "worn and torn" by the ordeal. The girl will seek counseling soon, and will report back to school Monday, Parsons said. Parsons hopes the answers will come, no matter how slowly. "Obviously, there’s a problem here," Parsons said. "Kids don’t run away for no reason." Reach reporter Chris Conrad at 776-4459, or e-mail Crime spree ends with arrest of sex offender, juveniles ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Salvia Divinorum Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Advertisement s