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52 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, November 15, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds 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 Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 13, 2004 I.D. theft offender gets more jail time By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A longer prison sentence for Eric One Ziegler brings no comfort to Joe and Patricia Kilbourn. The Gold Hill couple fell victim to Ziegler’s countywide identity theft scheme earlier this year. Ziegler was sent to prison for more than six years only to steal 35-year-old Patricia Kilbourn’s identity a second time and use it to set up long-distance phone accounts while incarcerated. Just two days ago, Qwest informed the couple that another telephone number had been set up in their name in Portland. "We just don’t have any idea how far this is going to go," said 34-year-old Joe Kilbourn, adding that the couple still has to worry about long-term damage to their credit. Ziegler, 31, pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of identity theft and was ordered to serve another two years and two months in prison in addition to the 5 ½ years remaining from his earlier sentence. Jackson County Circuit Court judges enhanced Ziegler’s punishment both times because he was a frequent offender. "It is remarkable that he continued these activities while incarcerated," Circuit Court Judge Lorenzo Mejia told the Kilbourns. Advertisement Spurred by a methamphetamine addiction, Ziegler broke into Patricia Kilbourn’s car at a church parking lot and stole her wallet early this year. With that one swipe, Ziegler had her Social Security number, driver’s license, bank account information and credit cards. "When I saw him, I got so mad I just started shaking," Joe Kilbourn said. "I just wanted to wring his neck." Investigators said Ziegler legally obtained Patricia Kilbourn’s Social Security number a second time from police reports furnished by his probation officer. It’s unclear how, but Ziegler later transferred the information to an address book that he purchased from the prison’s commissary, said Matt Chancellor, deputy district attorney for Jackson County. Ziegler set up telephone services at the homes of friends and relatives using Patricia Kilbourn’s identity, said Detective Colin Fagan of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Ziegler not only placed collect calls to the accounts from Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution in Pendleton, but also gave other prisoners access to the telephone numbers. Investigators with the Oregon Department of Corrections uncovered the scam during a routine audit of prisoner phone calls in June, Fagan said. The Kilbourns did not pay the approximately $8,000 in charges, which were absorbed by AT&T’s fraud unit. Charges also were filed against two Medford women in the case. Cara Kay Kelley, 41, of the 500 block of Arbor Street, and Ziegler’s niece, 24-year-old Carrie Ann Foley, of the 800 block of Pine Street, have yet to stand trial. In a separate case, Ziegler pleaded no contest Friday to two felony counts of tampering with a witness. His sentence of a year and six months will run jointly with the identity theft sentence, adding no additional prison time. Ziegler wrote a threatening letter to Tina Parshall, 27, of Gold Hill, and later phoned her from the Jackson County Jail to say he would have her murdered, police said. The telephone conversation was recorded. Parshall helped police piece together their first case against Ziegler. She and Ziegler’s other girlfriends went on shopping sprees for him with stolen checks and credit cards. Police said they believe the thefts totaled more than $100,000. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, 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 © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities