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SUNNY Temp: 51 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Tuesday, November 26, 2002 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 November 13, 2002 Soldier jailed on sodomy, drug charges By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A U.S. Army sergeant who allegedly was having sex with a 15-year-old Medford boy and giving him drugs was in jail Tuesday. Sgt. 1st Class Efrain Torres, 36, was charged with five counts of sodomy and one count each of delivering a controlled substance to a minor and possession of methamphetamine. He heard charges filed against him in Jackson County Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon and was lodged in the county jail on $100,000 bail. Stationed in Tacoma, Wash., Torres was on leave when he was arrested Monday afternoon at the Motel 6 on Biddle Road. Officers were called to the motel around 1 p.m. because Torres reportedly had not checked out on time and was refusing to leave or pay for another day. He had been at the motel since late Friday. A teenage boy was passed out on Torres’ bed, said Medford police Detective Bill Ford. Officers also saw evidence of sexual activity and drug use, Ford said. "It was nasty," Ford said. Officers called an ambulance when they could not rouse the boy from a state of unconsciousness induced by drugs, Ford said. Emergency medical personnel evaluated the teen, who did not need treatment, Ford added. The boy at first denied that he had been having sex with Torres but later told investigators the weekend was his fourth rendezvous with Torres after meeting him about a year ago via an Internet Web site. The first two times Torres came to the Rogue Valley to meet the boy, he was traveling with his Army unit, which trains near Ashland, Ford said. Both times, he picked up the boy in an Army vehicle and took him to an Ashland motel, Ford said. Torres’ status as a senior non-commissioned officer affords him his own vehicle and accommodations, Ford added. Torres was off-duty when he came to see the teen a third time, about two or three months ago, Ford said. He allegedly gave the boy methamphetamine during the past three meetings and cocaine during the most recent weekend, Ford added. Officers found a mirror, razor blades and a butane torch in Torres’ motel room, Ford said. They allegedly found methamphetamine pipes with drug residue in Torres’ computer case. The boy told police that Torres took photos of him with a "Web cam" and showed him pornographic images of young boys on his personal laptop. U.S. Army officials at Fort Lewis in Washington also are investigating the case. Ford said they offered no information about Torres committing any previous crimes. "I think it came as a complete shock to them," Ford said. Officials at Fort Lewis could not be reached. 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 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S