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CLEAR Temp: 62 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, June 5, 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 May 8, 2003 Sergeant pleads guilty on sex, drug charges By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A U.S. Army sergeant will spend two years in prison for giving drugs to a 15-year-old Medford boy and having sex with him. Sgt. 1st Class Efren Torres, 36, pleaded guilty in Jackson County Circuit Court Wednesday to delivering a controlled substance to a minor and two counts of third-degree sodomy. Additional sodomy and drug charges were dismissed in exchange for Torres’ plea. Federal prosecutors agreed they wouldn’t charge Torres for traveling across state lines to have sex with a minor. Stationed at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Wash., Torres was on leave when he was arrested at a Medford Motel 6 on Nov. 11. Motel employees called police because Torres had not checked out on time and refused to leave or pay for another night’s stay. Officers found a teenage boy passed out in Torres’ room, which was littered with sex and drug paraphernalia, investigators said. The boy at first denied having sex with Torres but later told investigators about three other weekend rendezvous since meeting the sergeant via the Internet. Advertisement The first two times they met in person, Torres picked up the boy in a military-owned vehicle and took him to an Ashland motel, investigators said. Torres was traveling with his Army unit, which trains near Ashland. His status as a non-commissioned officer grants him his own vehicle and accommodations. Torres was off duty when he came to see the teen a third time last year. On each visit, the sergeant gave the boy narcotics — methamphetamine and, most recently, cocaine, investigators said. The boy had asked Torres to bring him the drugs, prosecuting and defense attorneys said. "This is a man who, because of weakness and lust, really screwed up his life," said defense attorney Don Scales. Torres, who admittedly has a drug-abuse problem, will be dishonorably discharged from the Army and lose his military benefits, Scales said. Torres is not likely to face additional prosecution from the military, said Beth Heckert, deputy district attorney for Jackson County. Torres apologized to the victim and his family, as well as to military "comrades" whom he said he failed during a time of national crisis. "It was with great shame I sat in my cell every day and watched the events in Iraq," he said Neither the victim nor his family were present in court. The victim had no desire to discuss the crime, Heckert said. Circuit Court Judge Ray White ordered Torres to spend two years in an Oregon Prison and five years under post-prison supervision. He also must register as a sex offender and pay for the victim’s counseling. 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 | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley 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