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Ashland man faces prison after scattering thousands of nails Chad Renick Monday Oct 31, 2016 at 5:15 PM Oct 31, 2016 at 5:40 PM Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune @VickieAldous A disgruntled man who scattered thousands of roofing nails in the parking lots of medical clinics and businesses in Medford pleaded no contest to a string of charges on Monday. Relatives said he was angry after falling off a roof and damaging his brain, then settling for a worker's compensation figure he later thought was too small. Chad Jay Renick, 40, of the 300 block of Oxford Street in Ashland, likely will be sentenced to two years and one month in prison during a Thursday sentencing hearing in Jackson County Circuit Court. Defense attorney Andrew Vandergaw said he and the Jackson County District Attorney's Office agreed on the sentencing recommendation during a plea agreement negotiation. Judges are not bound to follow plea agreement recommendations, but often do. Renick entered no-contest pleas to charges of stalking, attempted coercion and six counts of first-degree criminal mischief for behavior that police believe stretched over two years and involved more than 20 Medford Police Department cases, according to court documents. With a no-contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes prosecutors likely could prove their case at trial. The chain of events leading to criminal charges began in 2013 when Renick was working for Personnel Source Inc. as a painter, his parents said. "He fell off a roof and severely damaged his brain," Vandergaw said. Renick's parents said they believe he settled a worker's compensation claim for about $50,000 and signed away his rights for any future compensation. Eventually he grew to believe the amount was inadequate. "He didn't believe he'd been adequately compensated," Vandergaw said. "It made him angry, upset and mad." Senior Deputy District Attorney Terry Smith-Norton said Renick responded by spreading thousands of nails in the parking lots of various businesses and breaking windows. The nails damaged the tires of employees, patients, customers, delivery truck drivers and others, she said. Renick was obsessed with revenge, Smith-Norton said. He stalked an employee of Personnel Source and tried to coerce an employee of a local law firm into reopening his civil case by threatening to damage the firm's property, according to an indictment. Medford police said they executed a search warrant on his Ashland home and arrested Renick in September. They found nails that matched ones collected at parking lots as well as a piece of clothing that matched video surveillance footage. As part of the plea agreement, his parents said, Renick must pay $15,000 in restitution before he goes to prison. They are trying to sell his car and truck to cover the costs. He also will owe additional restitution after being released, although that figure has yet to be determined. Renick's parents said they had tried repeatedly to get their son help for his mental health issues, but he doesn't trust doctors. Businesses and clinics targeted by Renick included Personnel Source, Shlesinger & de Villeneuve Attorneys, Parkside Cafe, Mr. D's Insurance Inc., La Clinica, Southern Oregon Neuropsychological Clinic and The Haven Pain & Spine Center, according to an indictment. Reach staff reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or [email protected]. Follow her at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous.