2 weeks Ago By CODY MANN [email protected]
A 19-year-old former Corvallis resident accused of vandalizing a religious center in Ashland has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to a bias crime. Zachary Ryan Demarest was arrested after police said he egged the Chabad Jewish Center of Southern Oregon , saying “Heil Hitler” and gesturing with a Nazi salute as he fled the scene. Demarest, who could not be reached for comment, is the son of Benton County Judge Joan Demarest, who was reached via phone.
“I love my son Zachary very much, and our family has always strongly opposed discrimination of any kind, and we continue to do so,” Joan Demarest said, echoing her statement when Zachary Demarest’s arrest was first reported. “Beyond that, I would invite you to consider what value reporting this story in the Corvallis Gazette-Times has beyond embarrassment and humiliation for his family,” Joan Demarest said. Police were called to the Chabad Jewish Center for a report of vandalism Dec.
14, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Ashland Police Department. The date was near the end of the celebration period for Hanukkah in 2023. Ashland police obtained video footage of former Corvallis resident Zachary Demarest egging a Jewish center, yelling "Heil Hitler" and giving a Nazi salute.
Video evidence provided to authorities showed two men and a woman approaching the center, then one of the men, later identified as Zachary Demarest, tossing an egg at one of the building’s windows, the affidavit states. Someone is reportedly heard on the recording saying “more” or “one more,” and Demarest throws another egg, hitting the front window or door window, according to the affidavit. He then took off running, spouting the Nazi greeting with accompanying salute.
Ashland police tracked Demarest and his two companions to Southern Oregon University, where all three were reportedly enrolled at the time, matching their descriptions with campus security footage, the affidavit states. Police said the three left the university on winter break shortly after the vandalism was reported. Detectives continued their investigation when the new school term began, according to an Ashland Police Department news release, which identified Demarest as a Corvallis resident.
Demarest was eventually contacted and told to turn himself in to the Ashland Police Department, which he did. He was booked at the Jackson County Jail in January and charged with misdemeanor second-degree counts of bias crime and criminal mischief, along with third-degree criminal mischief. The other man with Demarest was identified as Jacob Wilhelm of Blackfoot, Idaho, according to an Ashland police news release, which states Wilhelm was cited for second-degree bias crime and third-degree criminal mischief.
Court records indicate Jackson County prosecutors did not officially charge Wilhelm. The third person in the video was reportedly identified but not implicated in the crime and was not named by authorities. Demarest pleaded guilty to the bias crime charge Wednesday, Sept.
18, according to court documents, which note he faced a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $6,250 fine. The prosecution recommended 18 months of bench probation and 80 hours of community service. Court documents show Judge Kelly Ravassipour sentenced Demarest to 11 months bench probation and 80 hours community service.
The criminal mischief charges were dismissed under a plea agreement. Court records now list a Tucson, Arizona address for Demarest. More local crime and public safety news Cody Mann covers public safety and justice in Linn and Benton counties.
He can be contacted at 541-812-6113 or [email protected] .
Follow him on Twitter via @News_Mann_. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
.
