Manslaughter Charge in Douglas Co., Jan. 8

On November 17, 2017, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of subject who was shot at a residence, in the 300 block of Temple Brown Road. The subject, 23 year-old Josman Cereceres, of Portland, was taken to Mercy Medical Center, where he was later pronounced deceased. The other subject at the residence, 23 year-old John Walker Adams of Roseburg, reported to Sheriff’s Office Detectives that Cereceres had been playing with a handgun when he accidentally shot himself. The shooting was investigated and the investigators believed the cause of the shooting was from an accidental, self-inflicted act. In early December, the Sheriff’s Office met with an attorney representing Adams, who reported that Adams wished to come forward to report that it was he who had accidentally shot Cereceres. The investigation resumed, which in part, included an account from Adams on what occurred, and obtaining information from social media. The social media information revealed that Adams and Cereceres were both playing with a handgun. At one point, Adams loaded the handgun and then shot Cereceres, causing his death. On January 4th, at about 2210 hours, Adams was contacted by members of the Sheriff’s Office Patrol and Detectives Division in the 4000 Block of Carnes Road, and taken into custody without incident. Adams was lodged at the Douglas County Jail on charges of Manslaughter I and Tampering with Evidence.