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Fourth man faces kidnap charges By Jill Briskey The last of four men suspected in a botched kidnapping and robbery scheme Dec. 15 pleaded not guilty Wednesday to various charges in a Jackson County court. Medford police arrested Kenneth Dean Baxter, 19, of Talent, on Tuesday prior to his court appearance. Calling Baxter a "person of interest," police said they have been looking for him since he fled the scene of the alleged crime Dec. 15. Baxter faces charges of first-degree robbery and two counts of first-degree kidnapping. He is being lodged in jail on $3 million bail. Medford police could not comment on Baxter�s arrest since the case was still under investigation. According to Medford police, two other men and a 16-year-old male were arrested after allegedly attempting to kidnap a Medford man at gunpoint at an apartment complex at 318 E. 12th St. Police said the teenager, 19-year-old Charles Goguen of Talent and Baxter allegedly had forced their way inside the victim�s motor home, which was parked on the property. The group allegedly tied up the victim with electrical cords at gunpoint, an arresting officer said. The men planned to force the victim to withdraw money, then beat him up and dump him in the mountains, police reported. The shotgun used in the crime was recovered. Tory Ray Ramirez, 18, who lived at the address, was charged with first-degree robbery, kidnapping and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. Ramirez�s court appearance is slated for Jan. 3. The teenager, who was lodged in juvenile detention, faces charges of first-degree robbery, kidnapping and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. Goguen, who was charged with first-degree robbery and lodged in jail on $1 million bail, pleaded not guilty to those charges Wednesday in court. Court records reflect that Ramirez and Baxter have faced legal trouble in the past. Ramirez has a trial date scheduled on March 13 for an unrelated case involving an alleged assault, which took place Aug. 12 at the 7-11 convenience store on Crater Lake Avenue. Court records show that Medford police arrested Ramirez and co-defendant Michael Shane Akers after the two allegedly became embroiled in an argument with a single victim. Ramirez and Akers face charges of third and fourth degree assault. On Feb. 23, 2000, court records show, Baxter pleaded no contest to a charge of third-degree criminal mischief. Court records state that charges of reckless endangering and reckless burning were dropped in an Aug. 3, 1999, incident where Baxter set a juniper bush on fire on another person�s property in Jackson County. He was placed on supervised probation and ordered to pay various fines. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.