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P/CLOUDY Temp: 49 °F Wind: WNW at 7 mph Sunday, March 2, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend November 21, 2002 Army officer denies drug, sex charges involving boy By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A U.S. Army officer accused of having sex with a Medford teen and giving him drugs may have used government computers to contact the boy, police said. Sgt. 1st Class Efren Torres, 36, apparently was using his Army e-mail address to communicate with the 15-year-old, said Medford police Detective Bill Ford. Military police also are investigating whether Torres charged the Army for long- distance phone calls to the victim, Ford said. Torres pleaded not guilty in Jackson County Circuit Court Wednesday to five counts of third-degree sodomy and one count each of delivering a controlled substance to a minor and possession of methamphetamine. Torres is stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington but remained in the Jackson County Jail Wednesday on $100,000 bail. Two Army officers visited Torres in jail and spoke to investigators Tuesday, Ford said. However, officials at Fort Lewis provided no information Wednesday on Torres’ Army status. Torres was on leave when Medford police arrested him last week at Motel 6 on Biddle Road. Called to the motel because Torres had not checked out on time and was refusing to leave, officers found a teenage boy passed out on Torres' bed, Ford said. Police also saw evidence of sexual activity and drug use, Ford said. Officers called an ambulance when they could not rouse the boy from a state of unconsciousness induced by drugs, Ford said. Emergency medical personnel evaluated the teen, who did not need treatment, Ford added. The boy at first denied that he had been having sex with Torres but later told investigators the weekend was his fourth rendezvous after meeting him about a year ago via an Internet Web site. Torres previously had visited the boy twice while traveling with his Army unit, which trains near Ashland, Ford said. Both times he picked up the boy in an Army vehicle and took him to an Ashland motel, Ford added. Torres allegedly gave the boy methamphetamine during the past three meetings and cocaine during the most recent weekend, Ford said. In an effort to locate any other victims, police are contacting approximately 100 people whose telephone numbers were logged in Torres’ personal cell phone, Ford said. Most of the phone numbers appear to belong to residents of the Tacoma, Wash., area, Ford said. "If they are a juvenile ... I’m going to speak to their parents and find out why Torres has their phone number," Ford said. Torres’ next court appearance is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 2. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, 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 © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S