Cops 123 2

A Nevada man who was convicted earlier this week for several crimes in Jackson County was arrested Thursday morning after witnesses reported him starting several small fires in a vacant Ashland lot. 

Joshua Roy Worden, 43, was arrested and transported to the Jackson County Jail and lodged for reckless burning, then released, according to a news release from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

Worden was released pre-trial due to Senate Bill 48, the sheriff’s office stated on its Facebook page.

“This arrest was a great example of community members staying alert and helping law enforcement to keep us safe,” the release stated. “During fire season, it is especially important for all of us to have an increased sense of awareness and to keep our community safe.”

Worden allegedly started fires at approximately 7:43 a.m. in the 2300 block of Ashland Street, but he fled the scene when witnesses saw him, the release stated.Worden returned to the location while law enforcement was investigating, and he was taken into custody, according to the release.

Worden, of Sparks, Nevada, was convicted Tuesday in Jackson County Circuit Court on charges of use of second-degree electrical stun gun, tear gas or mace and fourth-degree assault after spraying someone with bear mace while under the influence of methamphetamine on June 28. Charges of second-degree disorderly conduct and escape were dismissed in this case, but Worden was sentenced on the convicted counts to two years bench probation, 15 days in jail with credit for time served and ordered to have no contact with his victims and no weapons or mace/pepper-spray. 

Worden was also convicted Tuesday on charges of first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree disorderly conduct after he stole a large commercial dumpster from a business across from Chico’s Auto Collision Repair June 6 and crashed the dumpster into the curb. Worden then ran down McAndrews Road and into the parking lot of the Lithia Toyota dealership, where he was tased by police and arrested. Charges of first-degree theft and third-degree escape were dropped, but on the other charges he was convicted of, Worden received 18 months bench probation, 10 days in jail with credit for time served and ordered to have no contact with Chico’s Auto Collision.

Worden was also convicted May 30 on a single count of first-degree criminal trespass after he was found yelling on railroad tracks near Mason Way about his friend being in the hospital, and “(Worden) thought he saw umbilical cords in his friend’s wallet,” according to a probable cause affidavit. A second-degree disorderly conduct charge in the same case was dismissed. He was fined and given probation in the case. Oregon implemented Senate Bill 48 in July of 2022, the sheriff’s office said.

The bill eliminated bail upon arrest and requires immediate release from custody for certain charges. While this law designates certain crimes for immediate release, thereby removing the discretion from the jail supervisor, it also requires that people charged with other crimes remain in custody until they can appear before a judge at an initial hearing, JCSO said. For more information on SB 48, see https://tinyurl.com/4jptpfsu