Heroin behind recent shooting
Police have found heroin to be the motivation for the break-in that lead to a fatal shooting in southeast Eugene a few weeks ago. The 27-year-old resident, identified in court documents as Tyler Norman, admitted to police that he is a former heroin addict and dealer.
Norman did not recognize either of the men that invaded his home on Feb. 2. The men held a gun to his head and demanded the drugs and money from him. Although he did not recognize either, he said it was possible that they had been to his house with others in one of his dealing interactions.
Norman had been in his house along when Shawn Connelly, 44, and Darrin Dubouch, 39, forced their way into his house. Norman had been able to get to a hidden gun, and fatally shot Connelly. Dubouch was found later on.
“Choking” game appears at South Eugene High School
Students at South Eugene High School have recently admitted to playing the dangerous “choking” game, a game that requires players to choke themselves to the point of unconsciousness for a disorienting high. Three students, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Register Guard about trying it themselves and seeing their friends try it.
The game has been known to be fatal in some cases, while inducing comas in others. One of the students told the Guard that he had wanted his friend to catch him when he collapsed, but woke up on top of his friend who had been unable to hold him.
The principle of South Eugene, Randy Bernstein,  sent out an email to around 1,000 subscribers Monday, explaining the game and it’s accompanying risks. After polling students in the cafeteria, there were only three or four tables that had never heard of it.
Man charged with theft after defrauding hundreds of thousands from customers
James McKee, a Eugene financial planner, has been charged with theft after defrauding up to $370,000 from his clients and misusing up to $650,000 of his clients money for his own benefit. A financial industry regulator filed an official complaint against McKee this Tuesday.
McKee convinced his victims to invest in real estate dealings that he had direct ties to, according to the complaint filed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. A panel of hearing officers are asking McKee to pay fines, return his victims money with interest and give up any ill-­gotten gains.
The complaint notes McKee defrauding and partaking in illegal activities from February of 2006 to September of 2011. This included convincing one of his victims to give him $100,000 for a real estate investment, and then using it for other purposes.
Parents out on bail after arrest for second-degree manslaughter charges of their son
Brandi and Russel Bellew are accused of letting their 16-year-old Austin Sprout die from a medical condition that was only dangerous when left untreated. The Bellews claimed they refused to bring their son to medical attention for religious reasons.
Relatives of the two Creswell residents posted a total of $20,000 bail for the two of them. The family is a member of the General Assembly and the Church of the First Born, which is known for believing in prayer to treat medical problems.
Conditions of their bail include the two living apart, and not having any contact with anyone 18-years-old or younger. This includes Austin’s six siblings, one who is just a few months old.