On Monday, July 24, 2017, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a 2004 Ford F250 pickup that had been stolen from the 6000-block of Highway 99 North in Winchester. On Wednesday, July 26, 2017, deputies responded to a residential burglary in the 4000-block of Rice Valley Road in Yoncalla where approximately 18 firearms were stolen. During the course of the investigation, deputies discovered the two incidents were related. With the assistance of the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Sutherlin Police Department and Eugene Police Department, Douglas County deputies were able to locate the stolen pickup at a Motel 6 in Eugene on Monday, July 31, 2017. A traffic stop was made on the stolen vehicle as it left the motel. Deputies conducted a second traffic stop on a bus that had been associated with occupants of the stolen pickup along Interstate 5. All 18 stolen firearms were located in the bus. The following arrests were made as a result of the investigation: Christopher Robert Helm, age 33 of Yoncalla, OR – Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Warrant Arrest, Burglary I, Burglary II, Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle and Felon in Possession of Firearm. Jason Michael Vigil, age 37 of Eugene, OR – Theft I by Receiving, Felon in Possession of Firearm; Robin Lynn Vigil, age 30 of Eugene, OR – Theft I by Receiving; Matthew David Tong, age 39 of Eugene, OR – Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle; Jessica Nicole Blessent, age 29 of Eugene, OR – Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle. All of the subjects were transported to and lodged at the Douglas County Jail.
