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Search Menu Login Reset Password Home Weather Archive Sign Up for Alerts Full Site Close Menu CRIME Burglar praised in Jackson County courtroom for turning life around By By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune April 08, 2015 - 2:21 PM Jackson County Circuit Judge Patricia Crain looked down at a confessed felon with a history of burglary, theft and drug charges. "You're just doing so well. Everyone is thrilled," said Crain, who said she has watched as Richard William Myers, Jr. turned his life around after entering the county's drug treatment court program. "It must seem like a dream to you now." "It was a nightmare back then," Myers said. "It's a dream now." Myers, 32, of Central Point got into treatment court after driving recklessly and attempting to elude a police officer in January 2014. While taking part in the program, he confessed to a June 2014 crime in which he and another man pried open the sliding glass door of a Medford home, stole a safe containing a bank card and withdrew more than $5,000 from the victim's account. Myers also returned sound equipment he had stolen in a May 2014 burglary and was helping to trace chainsaws stolen in the burglary, according to a letter to Crain written by the victim of that crime, Camp Kaye. "I've seen first-hand the changes Myers is making in his life and am moved by that," Kaye wrote in the October 2014 letter. Facing a potential prison sentence for his role in last year's theft of the safe and money, Myers was in court Tuesday to plead guilty to first-degree burglary and second-degree burglary in the June 2014 case. Because of the progress he had made in drug treatment court, Crain sentenced him to three years probation. He currently has a job, she said. "I have full confidence in you," Crain said. Not everyone is accepted into treatment court because of limited resources and eligibility criteria. Others aren't deemed ready to take on the rigors of the program, or don't seem willing to give up drugs, alcohol or a life of crime. On Tuesday Crain denied entry into the program to a young man who said he grew up surrounded by crime and gangs in Detroit, Mich. and had moved to Oregon to escape bad influences. Although he was taking classes and working to improve his life for a while, he eventually became involved in crime again. The Medford Area Drug Gang Enforcement Team recommended against his entry into the program, and the Jackson County District Attorney's Office argued he simply wanted to go to avoid a prison sentence. Crain sentenced him to prison. However, she said he was welcome to come back and seek treatment services after his prison term is over, when he is on probation. Others who came and went before Crain on Tuesday received applause from onlookers and attorneys in court upon news they were doing well in the program. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] "> [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . Popular Today Medford council bans all pot grows Woman who tried to kidnap baby referred to mental health court It's not all legal: Police still seizing marijuana Worse late than never School seeks solutions, not punishment Multi-vehicle crash temporarily slows viaduct traffic Ultimate honor Latest Photo Galleries home search Full Site video weather daily archive txt alerts about mobile website limelight deals jobs real estate © Copyright Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications | Full Site