12/10/21, 12:27 PM
LAYERS OF LIES
“THIS LETTER IS TO INFORM YOU THAT THE ASSOCIATION HAS DECIDED TO REMOVE THE TRESPASS ORDER”
Ranch Matters received the ATTACHED letter dated November 8, 2021, from CRR attorneys Harker & Lepore regarding the “Removal of Trespass Order.”
The letter stated in part, “It is my understanding that the Association had obtained a trespass order against YOU (emphasis added) for an incident occurring on the Crooked River Golf Course.” However, the letter neglected to mention Dave Stangland who was also trespassed at the same time.
TRESPASS ORDER & WHY?
On April 20, 2020, a “PERMANENT” (False) Trespass Order was filed against Ranch Matters (RM) News service-John Stevens and Dave Stangland by Ranch Golf Course Superintendent Richard Jensen. We were covering a vandalism incident on the Course when Jensen aggressively approached us and demanded we leave immediately. Jensen was not interested in any explanations while yelling out, “YOU DIDN’T FUCKING ASK.” Jensen called the Sheriff’s Office and had us Trespassed-Permanently from the Golf Course. Later, he LIED to members of the Board about his statements and conduct. More later.
As an aside, Jensen’s Trespass/Report was filed on the same date, to Oregon’s Department of Public Safety Standards & Training (DPSST) against John Stevens’ private investigators license and RM News Service.
FOLLOW UP
Ranch Matters followed up and contacted Jefferson County Sheriff Marc Heckathorn for confirmation and clarification purposes. Heckathorn responded that on November 10, 2021, Ranch Manager Judy Lapora sent him an email with the Subject: “Removal of Trespass on John Stevens .” Lapora’s email stated: “Hi Marc. The Board has decided to remove the trespass from the Golf Course on John Stevens. Attached please find the letter from our HOA attorney to Mr. Stevens informing him of this decision. Please update your records accordingly. Thanks.”
As part of the chain of events we pointed out to Heckathorn that Lapora’s email did not mention removing Stangland from the Trespass Order and he indicated he would contact Lapora regarding Stangland’s status.
Attached E-Mail Traffic
Later, we had an opportunity to speak with Sheriff Heckathorn via telephone and he explained that he had a meeting with Lapora and a couple of Board members at the Ranch on October 27, 2021. He stated, “I don’t think it’s a secret, I had a meeting out at CRR with Judy and a couple of the Board members on a totally separate issue. To be honest, I can’t even tell you how this conversation came up, about this trespass thing. I think they asked me for what my opinion was on the length of one…”
Sheriff Heckathorn recommended that they drop the trespass order “for a lot of different reasons.”
Heckathorn also said, “I didn’t know there was a whole Big Backstory…”
BRIEF HISTORY/BACKSTORY
On April 16, 2020, 4 days before the golf course incident, we contacted former Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Adkins and confirmed that a vandalism report had been filed and he provided us with the case number, 200267.
Later that same day we spoke with an employee at the Golf Pro Shop about the vandalism and he suggested we contact Ranch Manager Judy Lapora or a Groundskeeper for more information. We tried to reach Lapora, but she had the day off and we left a detailed message with the Ranch receptionist regarding our request. Lapora never contacted us.
Friday, April 17, 2020, we drove to the Sheriff’s Office and Adkins handed us a copy of the above mentioned crime report.
Our interest focused on the actual loss amount involved and the location of the incident, the 5th Hole for our story. Not everybody golfs and understanding where and how the vandalism occurred seemed like an appropriate aspect for our story.
April 20, 2020, day of the INCIDENT, we drove to the Ranch Groundskeeper Shop and asked for Golf Course Superintendent Richard Jensen. The Groundskeeper stated Jensen was not available. After identifying ourselves as reporters and explained our purpose, the Groundskeeper gave us permission and directions to the 5th Hole.
While taking photographs around the 5th Hole, and as stated above, Jensen confronted us in an aggressive/harassing manner demanding to know if we had permission. All attempts to explain that PRIOR PERMISSION HAD BEEN OBTAINED was ignored and Jensen screamed: “YOU DIDN’T FUCKING ASK.”
Jensen barked out confusing directions/orders and yelled: “YOU CAN CROSS RIGHT HERE, AS LONG AS YOU DON’T GET HIT BY THESE FUCKING GOLFERS…”
*Note: The “FUCKING GOLFERS” referred to by Jensen were 4 elderly ladies.
Superintendent Jensen was literally out of control, in our face, with the apparent motive of starting a fight. He wasn’t interested in any explanations and demanded we leave the Course while stating he was going to call the cops.
Note: While trying to leave the Groundskeeping area Jensen was on his phone with a sheriff’s deputy and blocked our vehicle. It was necessary to further document Jensen’s comments that included Jensen inviting a legal fight with the Ranch attorney. Jensen said, “YOU CAN FIGHT IT WITH OUR ATTORNEY TOO.”
(HOMEOWNERS FOOTING JENSEN’S LEGAL BILLS?)
A short time later a Jefferson County deputy showed up and stated Jensen had reported the incident and demanded we be trespassed from the Ranch Golf Course, “Permanently” and entered both of our names into the Trespass Log. The deputy said if we returned to any area belonging to the golf course, we would be “CRIMINALLY CHARGED.”
According to the 911 Dispatch Log, Jensen told the dispatcher that Stevens did not have permission, he stated, “Nobody Gave Him Permission.” Jensen knew Stevens/RM had permission from a subordinate, yet LIED to dispatch. He tells the dispatcher we were on the Course to do a story, acknowledging the purpose behind our presence while at the same time saying we were just “WALKING AROUND” implying some sort of mischief. When the dispatcher asked Jensen for subject information, he only named Stevens and suggested something nefarious by saying,
“YOU’RE PROBABLY WELL AWARE OF HIM.”
Jensen’s call to the 911 Dispatch triggered multiple police units responding CODE 3-Lights and Sirens, all over a (FALSE) TRESPASS REPORT?
A couple of days later (April 22, 2020), Jensen emailed Ranch President Carl Harbour and Manager Judy Lapora with the subject line: “Stevens/Stangland trespassing incident.” His report tried to explain away his explosive outburst and why Ranch Matters-Stevens and Stangland were reported to the Sheriff’s Office and trespassed. He LIED to Harbour and Lapora about his documented statement, “YOU DIDN’T FUCKING ASK.” He told them, “AT NO TIME DID I EVER SAY BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T FUCKING ASK.”
Jensen also LIED about saying, “YOU CAN CROSS RIGHT HERE, AS LONG AS YOU DON’T GET HIT BY THESE FUCKING GOLFERS.”
Jensen’s so-called report was riddled with misinformation and out right lies along with his denials. Additionally, his report was submitted to DPSST against Stevens’ private investigator license with a cover letter written by Ranch Director Mark Schneider.
Schneider stated in part, “He (Stevens) got word of the vandalism by having access to the Sheriff’s e-mails because he is a private investigator and doesn’t need probable cause. This phony needs to have his licensed revoked soon.”
Schneider’s DPSST LETTER Attached
(Schneider’s statements not only demonstrated his lack of intellect, but reaffirms his role along with his Association cohorts, of their incompetence and venom.)
On April 23, 2020, Manager Lapora forwarded Jensen’s email to Ranch Director/Golf Course Liaison Jerry Cooper, Directors MARK SCHNEIDER and Stephanie Proffitt with the SUBJECT, “FW: Stevens/Stangland trespassing incident CONFIDENTIAL.”
Lapora’s email incorporated interesting comments that are worthy of some scrutiny. She refers to the trespass matter as an “unfortunate incident” and deflects all Ranch responsibility. She further stated, “They have posted on Ranch Matters about this and as usual, the post was worded to omit any culpability on their part and make Richard and the Association look bad.
THEY DIDN’T NEED OUR HELP TO MAKE THEM LOOK BAD
Our reports have been accurate, honest and well documented. If anyone makes the Ranch look bad, it’s Richard Jensen, Judy Lapora and the Ranch Board of Directors.
Manager Lapora’s email additionally clarified the lines of authority that governs the Association. She stated in part, “We are employed by the Association and the oversight of the Association is the Board. I (Lapora) directly report to Carl (President Carl Harbour) and the rest of the staff report to me through their supervisors.”
Her above explanation regarding the chain of command tends to marry her personally to Jensen’s dangerous actions and false reports.
WHY IT MATTERS
On November 24, 2021, RM contacted Ranch President Bill Burt regarding Dave Stangland’s status. President Burt stated: “I DON’T BELIEVE STANGLAND WAS TRESPASSED-IT WAS ONLY YOU (Stevens) THAT WAS TRESPASSED.” Burt was told that Stangland was also trespassed and that we have a copy of the Trespass Log.
Burt’s response: “THAT’S NEWS TO ME, I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY YOU. THE PLAN WAS TO REMOVE THE TRESPASS.”
Burt Added: “IF YOU BOTH WERE TRESPASSED THEN IT WAS MEANT FOR BOTH OF YOU TO BE REMOVED.”
(Sent Burt a copy of the Trespass Log)
Burt was asked if it was a Board decision to remove us from the trespass order and he stated: “IT WAS A BOARD DECISION AND THE ACTION IS EFFECTIVE.”
Monday, November 29, we spoke by phone with Ranch Manager Lapora regarding Stangland’s removal from the Trespass Order. She indicated that the Ranch lawyer was contacted and asked to send Stangland his removal letter. She confirmed that both Stangland and Stevens have been officially removed from the Trespass Order.
Note: Stangland received his removal letter from HARKER & LEPORE on December 3rd.
