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M/CLEAR Temp: 66 °F Wind: N at 3 mph Friday, August 2, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Cyberchef E The People Golf Job Network Headbone Zone Wellness Connection Movie Times Newspaper in Education Oregon CarZone Outdoor Journal Personals Prime Times Real Estate Tempo A & E TV Times W3 Magazine CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Destinations Automotive Communities Employment Entertainment Publications Real Estate Recreation Shopping Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Jobs @ Mail Tribune Email Story to a Friend August 1, 2002 Couple reeled in on fish-contest charges By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune A Central Point couple was indicted Tuesday on felony theft charges for allegedly cheating in a June salmon-fishing derby during which they netted $2,000 for entering a fish they did not catch. A Jackson County grand jury indicted James and Lorna Eary each on a single count of first-degree theft. The charge alleges that the Earys bilked The Outdoor Store in Medford out of $2,000 in cash during the store’s inaugural salmon derby June 8-9. Police said Lorna Eary, 37, admitted that she did not catch the salmon she entered in the derby, and that Jim Eary, 38, said he arranged the deal. The Earys were two of about 200 anglers entered in The Outdoor Store’s Rogue River derby, in which contestants pre- registered, paid $20 and fished anywhere on the Rogue for spring chinook salmon. The store paid $1,000 cash prizes for the heaviest and longest fish in both women’s and men’s divisions. A Medford police investigation concluded that Jim Eary arranged to buy a large spring chinook salmon caught June 8 by a White City woman, offering her part of the cash prize if the fish won the derby. Later that evening, Lorna Eary then entered that fish in the derby as one that she had caught, eventually netting the cash prizes in both categories the following day. The couple returned the money the following week. The Earys later told detectives that Lorna Eary not only did not catch the fish, but also was not even on the river fishing the day she entered the salmon, according to Medford police reports. The Earys, who were not present at the grand jury proceedings, will be sent a letter informing them of the formal charges, said John Norton, a deputy district attorney for Jackson County. The Earys will be ordered to appear in court for arraignment sometime in mid-August, Norton said. A first-degree theft conviction carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Norton declined to say whether he will offer the Earys a plea bargain. The Earys could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S