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48 °F 5 Day Forecast Friday, November 28, 2003 --> Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend April 26, 2003 Three nabbed in home robbery Sheriff’s officials say men posing as federal officers stole $50,000 worth of guns and gear from reclusive Applegate Valley man By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune Four men claiming to be federal agents tied, blindfolded and threatened an Applegate man with shotguns last April, and made off with at least $50,000 worth of gear, including military surplus items, knives, camping equipment and more than 80 firearms. They left behind a wary victim stumbling down a rural road with his hands tied and a bag on his head, but little for police to go on, said Jackson County Sheriff’s Department investigators. But now, thanks to information shared by federal prosecutors in a drug case, sheriff’s Detective Dan Hobbs has arrested three men he believes participated in the robbery. Hobbs could not discuss details of the federal case because a judge has limited disclosure in the pending federal case. Hobbs arrested Kirby Lee Barker, 43; Jeffrey Truman Shepherd, 24; and Matthew Steven Phillips, 28, this month on kidnapping and robbery charges. He has also identified a fourth man, Thomas Eddie Larson, 34, as a "person of interest" in the case. Advertisement Kirby and Phillips are local businessmen, Hobbs said. They trained together for "ultimate fighting" matches — a no-holds-barred, gladiator-style sport that mixes boxing and street fighting. Phillips, a former U.S. Marine and North Medford High School baseball player, received international notice for his fighting in 2001. Hobbs said the arrested men attacked and robbed an avid gun and gear collector in his 50s who lives near Applegate Lake. On April 9, 2002, the victim answered a knock on his door from a man who claimed to be a Pacific Power employee who needed to show the victim a power pole on his property where crews planned to work. When the victim stepped outside he was confronted by two men wielding shotguns and wearing what he described as "raid gear," including flak vests, Hobbs said. The men identified themselves as federal agents conducting a raid and forced the victim to the ground at gunpoint. They placed a bag over his head and tied his hands, Hobbs said. Believing that the men really were agents who had the wrong address, the victim complied, Hobbs said. The men, now joined by a fourth man also in raid gear, asked the victim about his gun collection and demanded access to the guns. "They all seemed to know what he had and called him by name," Hobbs said. Hobbs said the victim had collected numerous firearms, knives, military-surplus items and camping gear over 30 years of attending gun, knife and sporting goods shows. He stored the items in cargo containers used as sheds around his property. The armed men prodded him with their shotgun barrels and herded him to get his keys and unlock the containers. Then they stole more than 80 guns and other items with a total estimated value of at least $50,000, Hobbs said. After they left, the victim —his hands still tied and vision partially obscured by the bag on his head — walked down a rural road until he was discovered by U.S. Forest Service workers. The workers freed him and called the sheriff’s department, Hobbs said. The detective said the victim, whom he described as "reclusive by nature," was now especially fearful about other people learning about his possessions and didn’t want police to publicize the case. Investigators tried to work quietly with drug informants and others who might know about the movement of stolen guns, but they came up with nothing. Last summer, federal drug investigators uncovered a lead in the case and promised to pass along the information when their work was done, Hobbs said. In February, federal prosecutors provided the sheriff’s department with files and, with that information, investigators got a warrant to search Barker’s house, Hobbs said. Exactly one year after the robbery, deputies served the warrant and discovered at Barker’s house several items reported stolen in the robbery. They arrested Barker, who owns Southern Oregon Mortgage Inc. On April 10, Hobbs arrested Phillips. Hobbs said additional stolen property from the robbery was found in Phillips’ possession. On April 16, Hobbs got an arrest warrant for Shepherd, who was aware of the investigation and turned himself in, Hobbs said. All were initially lodged in the Jackson County Jail on first-degree robbery and first-degree kidnapping charges, with bail set at $2 million. Shepherd remains in jail on those charges. Kirby, of the 3300 block of Ford Drive, Medford, appeared in Jackson County Circuit Court April 10 to face first-degree robbery, first- and second-degree kidnapping and first-degree theft charges. He posted cash on $50,000 bail and was released. Phillips, of the 100 block of Kensington Square, Medford, appeared in Circuit Court April 14 to face first-degree robbery and first- and second-degree kidnapping charges. He entered a not guilty plea, posted cash on $100,000 bail and was released. Hobbs said about a third of the firearms reported stolen have been recovered. Federal cases unrelated to the robbery are pending against Kirby and Shepherd, Hobbs said. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] 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 | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times