102-Year Sentence For Child Molester (Photo)
-06/27/25
In March 2025, Sergeant Caleb Riley and Detective Tracy White began investigating Chad Edward Kastle, 49, of Scio for sexually molesting a minor child over several years in Linn and Marion County. The minor was known to Kastle. All crimes were prosecuted in Linn County Circuit Court. Kastle was convicted of three counts of Rape in the First Degree, four counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, one count of Sodomy in the First Degree, one count of Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the Second Degree, and Attempt to Commit a Class B Felony.

Today, because of Sergeant Riley and Detective White’s investigative efforts and the courage of the victim to speak out, Kastle was sentenced to 102 years in prison. Sheriff Duncan wants to commend Sergeant Riley and Detective White on their efforts to keep the children in Linn County safe and to find them justice.
Linn County Sheriff’s Office Makes Arrest Following Investigation (Photo)
-06/26/25
Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports that on June 23, at 9:06 a.m., Justin Tyler Lima, 36, of Scio, was arrested after a warrant for his arrest was issued stemming from an investigation into multiple sex offenses.
The investigation began in October when an adult female known to Lima, disclosed that she had been sexually abused by Lima from the ages of 11 to 17 years of age. The abuse occurred at multiple locations in both Linn and Marion Counties.
The Linn County District Attorney’s Office and the Marion County District Attorney’s Office worked cooperatively in the charges for Lima. The investigation was presented to a grand jury where they returned an indictment for Sex Abuse I, Unlawful Sexual Penetration I, Unlawful Sexual Penetration II, two counts of Sodomy II, two counts of Sodomy III, Rape II and two counts of Rape III.
Justin Lima was arrested at his residence without incident and lodged in the Marion County Jail.
Linn County Sheriff's Office Investigates Fatal Crash Near Lebanon
-06/13/25
Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports yesterday, June 12, 2025, at 7:32 p.m., Linn County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a 911 call reporting a crash at the intersection of Lacomb Drive and Bond Road. An additional caller stated power lines were on top of the vehicles.
Deputies’ investigation showed Marion Johnson, 69, from Albany was driving a black Chevrolet Tahoe northbound on Bond Road when he approached the stop sign. Johnson had his wife, Valda Johnson, 67, as a passenger. When Johnson proceeded through the stop sign his vehicle was struck by a grey 2014 Dodge Ram pickup driven eastbound by Cole Russell Allen, 32, from Lebanon. Cole Russell Allen was the only occupant in the Dodge Ram pickup. When deputies and fire personnel from the Lebanon Fire Department arrived, they had power disconnected and extricated the Johnson's from the vehicle.
Marion Johnson suffered life-threatening injuries and died at the scene. Valda Johnson sustained non-life-threatening, but serious injuries and was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis by ambulance.
Deputies interviewed witnesses who reported Allen was driving at a high rate of speed moments before the crash. Deputies also found through their investigation Allen was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
Allen suffered minor injuries and was taken to jail where he was charged with Manslaughter II, Assault III, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII) and Reckless Driving.
The crash caused both power and internet outages in the area.
Linn County Deputies were assisted by the Lebanon Fire Department, the Linn County Road Department and Pacific Power.
Anyone with information on the crash or Allen’s driving of the Dodge Ram pickup yesterday, please contact Detective Scott Tennant at (541) 967-3950.