In 2020, Creswell-area resident Raina Ott entered into a deferred sentencing agreement related to neglect of horses. In January 2023, she was found to have violated the agreement. Ott was convicted, given a 45-day jail sentence, and was put on probation. She was prohibited from any dealings or contact with animals. Between April 2023 and January 2024, Ott committed a series of probation violations and crimes. Ott purchased nearly 100 head of cattle at livestock auctions in Linn and Lane County using fake names, then sold them via social media. The check used to finalize one purchase bounced. The cows were not returned, nor was the balance paid. In a separate case, Ott switched price tags on items she then purchased at an animal care supply store in Eugene. The total loss to the store was just under $1,000. On May 17th in Lane County, Ott pled to five counts of Identity Theft, five counts of Theft 1, one count of Theft 2, three counts of felony Animal Neglect 1, two counts of Animal Neglect 2, and being in violation of her probation. Ott was sentenced to 48 months in prison, with 36 months post-prison supervision. She will also be required to pay restitution in two of the involved cases. On June 12th in Linn County, Ott pled guilty to Aggravated Theft 1 and Negotiating a Bad Check. Ott was given a sentence concurrent to her Lane County sentence. She also was ordered to pay just over $11,000 in restitution to the involved auction yard. For their work on these cases, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Oregon Department of Justice, Lane County District Attorney’s Office, Linn County District Attorney’s Office, Eugene Police Department, Lane County Animal Services, Greenhill Humane Society, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
