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37 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, April 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 AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental 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 Email Story to a Friend March 5, 2004 Jack Harelson’s trial moves from Josephine County A convicted Indian grave-looter charged with plotting to kill police, a judge and former business partners will now stand trial in Jackson County. Jack Lee Harelson’s case was moved this week from Josephine County to Jackson County Circuit Court. Josephine County judges refused to hear the case, according to court records. Retired Josephine County Judge Loyd O’Neal was the target of a murder plot orchestrated by Harelson, prosecutors said. O’Neal presided over a 1996 trial that ended in Harelson’s conviction for looting Indian graves. Federal authorities in 2002 fined Harelson $2.5 million for looting American Indian graves in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. Prosecutors said Harelson, 63, of Grants Pass, also sought to kill an ex-wife, former business associate Lloyd Olds, Curry County resident Richard Ledger and Oregon State Police Sgt. Walt Markee. State police arrested Harelson in January 2003 and he was charged with paying an undercover police informant $10,000 in opals to murder Olds. Harelson’s former wife, Pamela Ralph, was a key witness in his 1996 trial. Olds, who lives in the Brookings area, testified that Harelson looted Indian graves. Harelson, Olds and Ledger shared interest in an opal mining venture in Nevada. Markee found the headless remains of two mummified Paiute Indian children in Harelson’s yard. Advertisement He faces charges of attempted aggravated murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, four counts of solicitation for murder, two counts of abusing a corpse and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. OSP investigators said they stumbled onto the alleged murder plot while continuing their investigation into Harelson’s suspected sale of items taken from Indian graves. Police then set Harelson up with a fictitious hit man to carry out the killings for him, said OSP Lt. Kurt Barthel.. 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 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times