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33 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, March 13, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 9, 2005 Man held in rape of teenager Police are looking for two other men who allegedly raped a girl at a transient camp near the Greenway By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune A Phoenix man has been arrested on suspicion of dragging a 15-year-old girl from the Bear Creek Greenway near the Rogue Valley Mall and raping her at a transient camp. Two other men also involved in the alleged rape remain at large, police said. Christopher Richard "Ricky" Valdez, 33, of the 1100 block of North Rose Street in Phoenix, is charged with first-degree rape, first-degree kidnapping and third-degree assault in connection with the Friday night incident, Medford police Lt. Tim George said. At about 7 p.m. Friday, the girl was walking south on the bike path along Bear Creek near East McAndrews Road, when a man believed to be Valdez appeared from a brushy area and grabbed her, George said. She was taken to a "tent camp" about 200 feet from the path, where Valdez and two other men allegedly raped her, he said. The girl, who was alone when she was dragged from the bike path, reported the incident to police on Sunday evening, George said. "This is a violent crime, and we do not take it lightly," he said. "We’re going to chase this until there is nothing left to chase." Advertisement The incident has led police to remind people to use caution while walking alone at night. "You’re always safer in numbers," George said. Phoenix police on Monday arrested Valdez on a parole violation and an out-of-county warrant charging him with failure to appear in court. He was identified Tuesday by the victim as the man who kidnapped and raped her. Although Valdez has a Phoenix address, he is known to frequent the transient camp, George said. Police are still seeking the other two men believed to have been involved in the rape. Valdez, who was being held late Tuesday in the Jackson County Jail on more than $2 million bail, has been convicted in Oregon of felonies, including second-degree burglary, unlawful use of a vehicle, and manufacturing and delivering methamphetamine. First-degree rape and first-degree kidnap are both Measure 11 offenses that carry mandatory minimum prison terms upon conviction. Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Slippers Student Loans afsa teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress Advertisement s