Woman sentenced to more than 7 years for burglaries during 2020 Oregon wildfires

By AP staff (AP)
OREGON CITY, Ore. Oct. 15, 2021 5:24 p.m.

A 35-year-old Oregon woman has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison for her role in several burglaries that happened while residents were evacuated from wildfires that sparked over Labor Day weekend in 2020.

Sandy Faye Lenox pleaded guilty last month to burglary, theft, and attempted burglary, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

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The investigation began on September 11, 2020, when deputies were patrolling evacuation zones in Clackamas County during the wildfires, KATU reported. They learned that two people may have walked onto a property near Mulino.

The deputies found several suspects, including Lenox and James Dean Shotwell.

Smoke moves in on the city of Portland, Ore., as wildfires rage ever closer to the metro area Sept. 9, 2020.

Smoke moves in on the city of Portland, Ore., as wildfires rage ever closer to the metro area Sept. 9, 2020.

Bradley W. Parks / OPB

Authorities say the two suspects stole gas-powered generators, a box of tools, leaf blowers, and a least one gas can from a neighboring property. Both were arrested and charged with theft and burglary.

Following the arrests, deputies recovered more stolen goods, and separate cases against the suspects developed with additional charges filed against Lenox. Shotwell pleaded guilty to burglary and theft. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

After pleading guilty to multiple charges on September 21, 2021, Lenox was sentenced to 90 months in prison on October 12.

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