Kidnapping & Rape Investigation, Sept. 28

The Oregon State Police, Redmond Police and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office are continuing an investigation into the kidnapping and sexual assault of two Redmond teenagers. On September 24, 2015 around 4:30PM, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was contacted at their Christmas Valley substation by two seventeen year old females who reported they were kidnap victims. The victims, from Prineville, reported they had been at the Walmart in Redmond Wednesday night (around midnight) where they could not get their car started. They stated two males pulled up in a silver sport utility vehicle and offered them to sit inside as it was cold. The females got into the vehicle where the males produced a handgun and drove off with them still inside. The victims believed they were ‘drugged’ and went unconscious thereafter. They recall being on Highway 20 east of Bend and then at a residence in Christmas Valley. Sometime during the day they managed to escape the residence and notify law enforcement. The Lake County Sheriff, the Oregon State Police and the Redmond Police began the investigation into the incident which spanned Deschutes, Klamath and Lake Counties. During the early evening of September 24, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a stolen vehicle Chevrolet Tahoe. It was believed the suspects that stole the vehicle were the same as the kidnapping suspects. On September 24 at about 9:15PM an OSP Fish and Wildlife Trooper observed the stolen Chevy Tahoe northbound on Highway 31 south of Lapine in Klamath County. With the assistance of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office the vehicle was stopped near the Klamath/Deschutes County line and two males were detained. The males were identified as James BORCHERS, age 50, of Portland and Joseph CHEEK, age 32, of Christmas Valley. They were arrested for Kidnapping I and Rape I and will be booked into the Lake County Jail later today. Law enforcement is seeking the public’s assistance on any information they may have. If anyone observed CHEEK or BORCHERS in the area of Redmond Walmart the evening of September 23 or anywhere the day of September 24. The public’s assistance is also requested in locating a silver or gray Toyota 4-runner that the suspects were seen operating the night the incident occurred. Anyone with information is urged to call OSP Detective Pat Irish at 541-883-5713.