Plaza stabbing results in probation, Albertsons shoplifting — part of crime string — in 11 years in prison
By Stephen Floyd, Ashland.news
Probation for Ashland Plaza stabbing
A Grants Pass man arrested last June for a stabbing at the Ashland Plaza has been sentenced to three years of probation after being convicted in a plea deal.
Francisco Joaquin Galindo Valenzuela, 42, pleaded no contest April 6 in Jackson County Circuit Court to third-degree assault and second-degree disorderly conduct. As part of a plea agreement, two counts of second-degree assault were dismissed.
If the case had gone to trial, Valenzuela faced at least 70 months in prison.
He was arrested June 22 after a disturbance that morning at Ashland Plaza in which witnesses said Valenzuela was harassing a woman and refused to leave her alone. When a male bystander intervened, Valenzuela stabbed the man in the chest.
Valenzuela admitted to the stabbing and said he acted in self-defense.
While on probation, Valenzuela must remain in contact with community corrections, may not violate any laws, and may not possess any knives, firearms or similar weapons. If his probation is violated, Valenzuela may face sanctions up to 90 days in jail.
11 years for serial offender who stole lottery machine
A Medford man who stole more than $7,000 in merchandise from Albertsons in Ashland, including a lottery machine, has been sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison as part of a plea deal in five separate cases.
Brandon Thomas Hoage, 37, was sentenced March 20 for his local charges after pleading guilty Sept. 29, 2022, to first-degree theft (4 counts), second-degree theft and second-degree burglary (3 counts). He received three 30-month prison sentences, to be served consecutively.
In four separate cases from Jackson and Josephine counties on similar charges, Hoage received three 13-month prison sentences to be served consecutive to each other and his Ashland case, for a total of 129 months in prison.
Hoag was arrested Aug. 23 for an incident Aug. 12 at the Albertsons on Ashland Street when he was caught on camera leaving the store with $7,248 in unpaid merchandise, including a lottery machine. It was later learned he had committed numerous other property crimes including the theft of jewelry and cash from Zales Jewelers in Medford and cash from Del Taco in Medford, and these incidents were added to his charges.
After being released on this case, four additional cases were filed for offenses occurring in November and December of 2022, including identity theft, the theft of cash from private citizens, and the theft of $780 from Roy’s Market, in Selma, and an employee’s purse.
Because of these multiple arrests, and because numerous prior convictions had not deterred Hoage’s behavior, prosecutors intended to seek an enhanced sentence.
Arson suspect deemed unfit for trial
An Ashland man arrested in January for allegedly lighting fires in a public park in Medford has been deemed unfit to stand trial and been committed to the Oregon State Hospital.
Sergio Carrera Castillo, 50, was arrested Jan. 24 by Medford police after authorities responded to fires along the fenceline at Fichtner-Mainwaring Park.
Witnesses identified Castillo as the suspect and Castillo allegedly told police he lit the fires because people at the park had insulted his family. The fences, belonging to private residents, suffered more than $1,000 in damage.
Castillo was charged in Jackson County Circuit Court with first-degree arson (two counts), second-degree arson, first-degree criminal mischief, second-degree criminal mischief, recklessly endangering another person (two counts), and resisting arrest. He pleaded not guilty and faced up to 20 years in prison on his highest count.
On Feb. 28, Judge Timothy Barnack ordered Castillo to undergo a mental health evaluation. On March 16, Castillo was deemed unfit to stand trial and was committed to OSH for no longer than three years or until he can be rendered fit to stand trial.
Specialty court for Bellview Elementary breakin
An Ashland man arrested last summer for breaking into Bellview Elementary School has been sentenced to specialty court after accepting a plea deal.
Patrick Daniel Flores, 29, pleaded guilty March 6 in Jackson County Circuit Court to second-degree burglary and was accepted into Jackson County Wellness Court for at least one year.
He will be on probation during the program and must comply with normal court restrictions as well as undergo treatment for mental health and substance abuse. If Flores completes the program, his case will be dismissed, while he faces 18 months in prison if he failed to complete the program.
Flores was arrested July 4, 2022, after breaking a window near the school gym and damaging items in the cafeteria kitchen. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to pay $4,443 in restitution to the school.
No students or other individuals were in the school at the time of the breakin.
Flores also pleaded guilty March 6 in a separate case to first-degree theft and ID theft. He was accused of stealing another man’s wallet and cell phone May 22, 2022, including more than $100 in cash.
Email Ashland.news reporter Stephen Floyd at [email protected].
