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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2025

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Criminal Investigation Filed Against Blech, Barnett, Yunker, and Schloegl

For Misuse of Records and Retaliation

By John Oliver Riccio On August 25, 2025, a formal request for a criminal investigation was filed with Josephine County District Attorney Josh Eastman alleging serious misconduct by four public officials: County Commission Chair Andreas Blech, Commissioner Chris Barnett, State Representative Dwayne Yunker, and Grants Pass City Councilor Erich Schloegl. The complaint outlines how these officials allegedly misused Oregon’s public records system, retaliated against a private citizen, and published defamatory information for political purposes. District Attorney Eastman acknowledged receipt of the complaint and confirmed that the matter was also forwarded to the Josephine County Sheriff’s Department and the Oregon State Police Special Investigations Division. Copies were additionally sent to the FBI. DOJ, and the Oregon Government Ethics Commission for review. The move underscores the gravity of the allegations, which reach beyond routine politics into criminal violations of state and federal law. The controversy began on August 5, when the Josephine County Board of Commissioners abruptly took control of the county’s public records process away from IT Manager Michael Sellers. Chair Blech announced that the commissioners themselves would now oversee and fulfill all requests. Since

then, however, not one request submitted by this newspaper has been processed or completed, aside from limited assistance by the District Attorney’s office. The request that triggered this conflict, filed on August 8, was instead routed internally and exposed to the very individuals named in it—an act that directly contradicted Oregon’s public records law, which requires timely and impartial compliance under ORS 192.329. Rather than fulfill their legal duty, Blech, Barnett, Yunker, and Schloegl allegedly chose to weaponize the request. What followed was a coordinated campaign of retaliation. Representative Yunker published false statements about my personal history without any factual basis or verification. Commissioner Blech, who as custodian of records had the authority to stop this misconduct, instead allowed it to proceed. Commissioner Barnett and Councilor Schloegl then amplified the attacks through social media, escalating the campaign. The intent was unmistakable: to

silence dissent, intimidate critics, and damage the reputation of the Grants Pass Tribune within the community. The complaint argues these actions amount to clear violations of Oregon law, including official misconduct, misuse of confidential information, coercion, and retaliation against a complainant. More importantly, the filing insists that the conduct reveals a disturbing pattern of abuse: elected officials, entrusted to serve the public, using the power of their offices to retaliate against the very residents and voters who placed them there. This is not merely about one newspaper or one citizen. If public officials can weaponize the records process to attack those who request transparency, then no one in Josephine County is safe from harassment. Instead of responding to lawful records requests, these men used their positions to illegally access and disclose sensitive information, to create division, and to retaliate against residents. The message their actions send is chilling—

that they consider themselves above the law, unbound by ethics, and free to punish any citizen who dares to question them. Unchecked, this behavior sets a precedent that corrodes democracy itself. If officials are using their office resources to investigate private residents, build “huge files” on individuals, and retaliate with public attacks simply because they do not like the questions being asked, then the concept of open government in Josephine County collapses. Such actions strike at the heart of both state law and constitutional protections. They create an environment where people are too afraid to exercise their rights, where asking for accountability means risking personal attacks, and where public records—the cornerstone of transparency—become a tool for political revenge. These actions cannot go unanswered. To ignore them is to accept governance by intimidation, where commissioners and

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see CRIMINAL, page 5

Kotek Enacts Sweeping Energy Affordability Legislation By E. Ward Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed a package of energy affordability measures into law on Monday, marking a significant step in the state’s ongoing effort to address rising utility costs for households and to ensure corporate responsibility in energy consumption. The ceremony took place in Hillsboro, where the governor underscored the role of the new policies in shaping both consumer protections and the state’s broader energy strategy. Following the event, Kotek addressed questions on other pressing issues facing the state, including Oregon’s sanctuary laws and the special legislative session scheduled to determine whether hundreds of millions of dollars will be directed toward the Oregon Department of Transportation. But the primary focus of the day was on the four new energy laws, each designed to strengthen affordability and accountability across Oregon’s energy landscape. At the heart of the legislative package is House Bill 3546, widely referred to as the POWER Act. The measure establishes clear requirements for companies that operate high-energy facilities, such as data centers

sharply, creating financial strain for households already contending with inflation in housing, food, and transportation. The FAIR Energy Act establishes a framework for greater oversight of utility proposals, with the intent of balancing company operations with consumer affordability. House Bill 3792 also carries broad implications for low-income households. The law doubles the funding for the Oregon Energy Assistance Program, increasing its annual allocation from $20 million to $40 million. By expanding financial support for vulnerable families, state leaders hope to reduce the number of residents forced to choose between paying for energy and meeting other essential needs. The expanded program is expected to provide relief during periods

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and cryptocurrency operations. Under the new law, these businesses will now bear direct responsibility for their utility expenses, preventing costs from shifting onto other ratepayers. Supporters of the act argue that it ensures fairness in an industry where electricity demands are especially high, while critics have raised concerns about the po-

tential impact on economic development. Another cornerstone of the package is House Bill 3179, known as the FAIR Energy Act. This law sets limits on proposed rate hikes from utility providers, with the aim of curbing steep increases that have become a growing concern for residents across the state. In recent years, energy bills have risen

see ENERGY, page 7