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Authorities look for sex offenders Officials at Jackson County Community Corrections are asking residents to help find three known and wanted sexual offenders. Records show that Leighton Wayne Bates, 40, a Medford resident, took off Monday without reporting his whereabouts and is wanted by authorities. According to reports, Bates was serving 24 months post-prison supervision in Jackson County following a first-degree burglary and supplying contraband conviction. Bates � who has prior convictions for first-degree rape and attempted rape � shows a pattern of substance abuse that precedes his sexual offenses, reports say. Corrections officials say Bates, who has used a weapon during past offenses, usually targets strangers. Bates has brown hair, blue eyes, stands 5 feet 10 inches, and weighs 175 pounds. A warrant was issued for Rinny Lance Gordon, 40, after he failed to report to his parole officer and stopped seeking sex-offender treatment. The victim in his case was a 7-year-old girl whom Gordon knew. Gordon was released from jail in 1999 after serving time for a parole violation. He stands 6 feet, weighs 185 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes. Thomas Carl Ruth, 33, also has a warrant for his arrest. Ruth was released to 15 years of post-prison supervision following convictions for first-degree rape, second-degree sex abuse and second-degree kidnapping. Ruth failed to report to his parole officer and has moved from his last known address, according to corrections reports. Community corrections officials said Ruth offered the victim in his case help when she was having car problems, drove to a remote location and assaulted her. Ruth stands 5 feet 1 inch, has brown hair and brown eyes, and weighs about 150 pounds. All three men have restrictions prohibiting contact with minors, barring them from drugs and alcohol, and various other conditions concerning treatment. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of any of these men is urged to contact Community Corrections at 774-4900. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.