Robber allegedly broke man's teeth with gun

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2018-07-09

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A Rogue River man faces robbery and burglary charges after allegedly breaking into a house and striking a resident in the face with a gun, breaking out his teeth. Christopher Scott Vinas, 32, of the 600 block of North River Road entered not guilty pleas Monday in Jackson County Circuit Court to two counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree robbery and first-degree burglary. He is being held in the Jackson County Jail on $250,000 bail after being arrested in late September. The alleged robbery and burglary took place back in January, when Medford police responded to a report of a robbery in the 300 block of Chestnut Street in Medford. A man reportedly broke a window, entered the house with a gun and menaced people inside. He allegedly struck Corey Matthew Blakey, 27, in the mouth with the gun, knocking out three of Blakey's teeth and cutting his upper lip. Vinas allegedly stole a large amount of money from the home, according to an affidavit. The robber allegedly pointed the gun at Blakey and pulled the trigger, but the gun dry-fired, the affidavit said. Dry firing occurs when a gun is not loaded or a bullet is not in the chamber. Video surveillance allegedly captured video of Vinas approaching the house. However, Blakey was not at the house when police responded to the robbery report and he could not be interviewed at that time. On Sept. 21, a search warrant was served on Blakey's home in connection with a drug investigation by the Medford Area Drug Gang Enforcement Team. Heroin, meth, scales, packaging and two loaded guns were found during the search, according to an affidavit. Blakey — who has a long history of convictions in drug cases and for other crimes — faces charges of manufacture, delivery and possession of heroin, two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of first-degree theft and possession of methamphetamine. He pleaded not guilty to those charges Sept. 30 and remains in jail on $50,000 bail. When investigators talked to Blakey about the alleged January robbery, he would not give a statement about the robbery or identify his alleged attacker, an affidavit said. Investigators obtained other information that led them to arrest Vinas in connection with the robbery, an affidavit said. Vinas has a lengthy criminal history of possessing, manufacturing and delivering drugs, including cocaine, heroin and the narcotic painkiller oxycodone. In addition to the robbery and burglary charges, Vinas faces charges of possession of heroin, manufacture and delivery of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of methamphetamine in another case after Central Point police arrested him in September. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous .