John West’s promise that “we are just getting started” now sits alongside a $5 million lawsuit, a demand for records concerning reported surveillance of my home and a request for investigation into whether false accusations against me were coordinated with others. The former Josephine County commissioner, recalled by voters in December 2024 and now campaigning to return to office, sent repeated messages invoking my military records, promising further public disclosures and warning that his plans had “many phases to go.”
The civil action against West seeks damages for defamation, interference with economic relations, intentional infliction of emotional distress, abuse of process and civil stalking. A separate $1 million lawsuit against Cassandra Hamlin concerns accusations of assault and harassment following a June 5 encounter at Planet Fitness in Grants Pass. Attorney Stephen J. Joncus, who represented West and former Commissioner Chris Barnett in lawsuits against me, has now notified me that he will be representing Hamlin.
West sued me in 2024 over the Tribune’s reporting. His subsequent lawsuits reached recall petitioner Lily Morgan, Tribune columnist Jay Meredith and former county human resources director Jonian “JJ” Scofield. He also challenged County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels’s handling of recall petition signatures. Joncus represented West in the recall litigation and has represented former county Finance Director Sandy Novak in her separate dispute involving former county Commissioner Dan DeYoung, Commissioner Ron Smith and Josephine County.
Kimberly Glover served legal papers on Joseph Rice at Joncus’s request in litigation brought on behalf of West, according to my account of those events. Glover also figures in the allegations concerning Barnett’s efforts to obtain false personal accusations against me through offers of financial benefits and assistance, including county employment. My request for investigation seeks the communications surrounding those approaches, the instructions associated with service on Rice and any relevant financial arrangements.
The allegations concerning Barnett describe an effort to secure accusations that could have brought about my arrest. The investigation request also asks whether anyone encouraged, directed, compensated or knowingly assisted Hamlin in making false accusations, and whether any promise of assistance preceded their publication.
Hamlin’s case, Josephine County Circuit Court number 26CV30874, concerns an encounter between approximately 7 and 8 a.m. on June 5 during my regular morning workout. The complaint describes Hamlin approaching me and initiating an unwanted verbal confrontation, including directing hostile and profane remarks at me. I deny initiating the confrontation or threatening, assaulting, pushing, striking or touching her.
Afterward, accusations circulated that I had pushed or shoulder checked a female member. I filed a report with Grants Pass Police, identified in the complaint as incident 26-19551. The complaint describes statements circulating among gym employees and others before accusations appeared publicly on social media.
The publication identified as Exhibit A named me and accused me of shoulder checking Hamlin, attempting to assault her, bullying her for more than two years, harassing her online and inside Planet Fitness, and engaging in threatening conduct toward women. The lawsuit challenges those accusations as fabricated factual statements that damaged my reputation and the Tribune’s business relationships.
Hamlin faces claims for defamation, false light invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress and intentional interference with economic relations. The complaint seeks $1 million in compensatory damages, punitive damages and a jury trial. It describes continuing harm from publication and republication of the accusations, including damage to relationships with readers, advertisers, business owners, public officials and sources.
The investigation request seeks review of video evidence, the complete police file, original social-media publications, witness accounts and communications concerning the encounter. It identifies Planet Fitness personnel and members as potential witnesses or records custodians, along with June 7 evidence-preservation correspondence.
Before Joncus gave notice that he would represent Hamlin, West sent me a message addressing my lawsuits involving women: “Good luck with your Perry Mason suits bringing lawsuits against innocent women . Oh I forgot that’s your M O bully women that must be the reason for court orders against you.”
I replied, “Friend of yours?” and then, “When she shows up with Joncus we’ll all know why.”
Joncus’s October letter subsequently stated: “Please be advised that I will be representing Cassandra Hamlin in the above referenced matter.” The letter identifies case 26CV30874.
The referral, its timing and the arrangements for representation are among the records sought in the investigation request. The request asks who arranged counsel, who agreed to pay legal expenses and whether any assistance was discussed before the accusations were made.
West’s messages had already described plans extending beyond the existing court case. On September 5, he wrote that Tribune reporting was “fortifying my case in the courts” and that “my plan will hit the airwaves in the next few weeks.” He added, “I appreciate the help your stupidity is my gain.”
On September 10, he wrote, “You should have picked on someone in your own league,” followed later by “Drip Drip Drip.” That evening, after I told him to respond to the newspaper’s emails and stop sending personal texts, he answered: “Oh little Johny we are just getting started . We are in phase 1 with many phases to go it’s going to be fun . There is more to happen and you know what it is. Drip Drip Drip.”
I identified the message as another threat. West responded the following morning: “No threat at all I’m sure you understand the process while being an actor for a living in your life.”
Other preserved exchanges contain similar language. West wrote, “No You started this my promise little guy is I will finish it,” and, “Little Johny Riccio this will be a learning lesson I will enjoy teaching you.” Another message stated, “Remember you started this I will finish it . I told you that it’s not a threat it’s a promise.”
West initiated the litigation between us. I was defending his 2024 lawsuit when he sent those messages. The new complaint addresses his later public statements and conduct, including the repeated references to my military service and the promised release of purported records.
“Let’s talk about your military records! Very interesting,” West wrote in one exchange. Other statements quoted in the complaint include, “Why you were released from the military is way more interesting,” and, “Can’t wait for all the records to come out.”
He also wrote that “voters have the right to see why they kicked you out of the military,” that citizens would see what my military records showed, and that military and other records would “be fun for the people to see and read.”
Another message stated: “Military records , money you owe people across other states , even Oregon. Court records this will be fun for the people to see and read.”
His September 18 message again questioned why I left the military “before finishing your term of service.” The same message referred to Meredith’s departure from city employment and criticized the newspaper’s coverage. On September 15, following a court appearance, West had written, “Congratulations on making another fool of yourself in court today.”
I served in the United States Marine Corps and possess government documentation establishing an honorable discharge. I have never authorized West to obtain my complete Official Military Personnel File, DD Form 214, military medical records, Department of Veterans Affairs records or other protected, nonpublic military or veterans records.
Official access information reviewed for the complaint does not identify West as an authorized recipient through the channels reflected in those records. His claimed source remains unidentified in the materials supporting my action.
My September 13 demand required West to identify the purported records, disclose their source and recipients, and preserve related messages, emails, photographs, downloads, transmissions, metadata and other electronically stored information. It also sought identification of any intermediary, campaign representative, public employee, public official, organization or government system through which he purportedly obtained them.
West’s public statements about the earlier judgment form a separate part of the defamation claim. In September 2026, he stated that I “owe approximately $457,000 for false statements made” and that “A court has already determined that he made false statements about me to voters and used his publication to mislead the public.”
The new complaint challenges his representation of what the court determined. West obtained a default judgment in case 24CV52856 without a contested trial at which competing evidence about the reporting was presented. I continue challenging the judgment, the underlying allegations, and the notice and procedures that produced it, contending that I have been denied due process and a meaningful opportunity to present my defense. A further hearing is scheduled for December 12.
The $5 million action also accuses West of acting directly and through supporters, associates and intermediaries to interfere with the Tribune’s existing and prospective relationships with advertisers, businesses and professional contacts. The claimed damages include economic loss, impaired business relationships, damage to professional reputation and goodwill, and severe emotional distress.
The process-service records add dates, charges and disputed accounts of attempts to locate me. ACP Investigations billed $972.50 for work connected to service of a document in the existing West litigation. The document was not an original summons and complaint commencing a new action.
The invoice identifies early morning attempts at Planet Fitness and describes “no show” attempts on September 8 and September 9. My electronic gym records show a September 7 check-in at approximately 5:19 a.m., a September 8 check-in at approximately 5:42 a.m. and a September 9 check-in at approximately 5:58 a.m.
My complaint states that I ordinarily remain at the gym for at least an hour after checking in and disputes the service account against those electronic records and my firsthand knowledge of being there. It charges that the efforts to physically locate me extended beyond service into monitoring, intimidation, embarrassment or harassment.
The records sought from ACP include contemporaneous notes, time records, any maintained GPS or other location information, photographs, video, employee communications, service instructions, invoices, payment records and communications with West or his representatives.
At approximately 8:45 a.m. on September 24, I spoke directly with an ACP manager. My complaint recounts her statement that West had been surveilling my home. I am seeking her testimony concerning the basis of that information, the dates and duration of any surveillance, who participated, who requested it and whether photographs, video, reports or other records exist.
The reported surveillance intensified my concern about West’s messages promising additional “phases” and warning that he would “finish it.” The complaint describes substantial anxiety, disruption of personal and professional activities and apprehension about my safety. It requests damages and temporary, preliminary and permanent protective relief, including relief addressing unlawful surveillance and preservation of relevant evidence.
West’s lawsuits against recall participants followed the campaign that removed him from office. Morgan, the recall petition’s chief petitioner, faced claims over statements concerning his conduct in county government. The circuit court struck most of the challenged claims under Oregon’s public participation law and awarded her $28,721.50 in attorney fees. Both sides appealed portions of the ruling.
In summer 2025, West brought a $2 million defamation action naming Meredith and Scofield, both participants in the recall effort. West later removed Scofield from that action and added allegations concerning Meredith’s Tribune writing. The circuit court dismissed the case against Meredith.
West sued Scofield separately for $2 million in January 2026 over a Facebook comment posted after the recall. A circuit judge denied Scofield’s motion to strike under Oregon’s public participation law, and that ruling went to appeal. In a sworn declaration discussed in the Meredith litigation, Scofield said West threatened to hurt him financially and told him attorney costs would leave him “homeless.”
West also challenged Henkels’s use of statistical sampling to verify recall petition signatures. The Oregon Court of Appeals rejected his argument that the sampling invalidated the recall petition and election. Joncus represented him in that appeal. The voters’ December 2024 decision removing him from office stood.
Barnett’s lawsuit against me preceded West’s. Barnett filed his defamation action in October 2024, and Joncus represented both men in their respective cases. My later multi-defendant action, case 24CV57342, accused political figures and others of spreading false statements and interfering with the Tribune’s advertising relationships. That action was dismissed without prejudice on procedural grounds.
The advertising claims described contacts with businesses and pressure to withdraw advertising from the Tribune. The allegations concerning Barnett’s approaches to Glover describe an effort to obtain false accusations of personal misconduct through offers of benefits and assistance. My investigation request seeks the associated communications, the circumstances of those offers and any relevant connections to other accusations or litigation.
Novak’s litigation arose from a separate county-government dispute. The former finance director raised complaints involving Commissioners Dan DeYoung and Ron Smith. DeYoung resigned in 2024 following her complaint concerning an interaction during a public meeting. Smith denied wrongdoing concerning a separate complaint. Novak subsequently filed a $1 million defamation lawsuit against Smith and Josephine County over public comments about that dispute. Joncus represented Novak.
Former Public Health Director Mike Weber and former Community Development Director Mark Stevenson each filed a $1.5 million lawsuit connected to their participation in an ethics investigation. Their claims included allegations concerning West and former Commissioner Herman Baertschiger.
Former county secretary Trish House said she lost her job after raising concerns about commissioner conduct. West denied that her termination was retaliatory. House later confirmed that she dropped her lawsuit and described intimidation and bullying as factors in her decision. Former Public Works Director Robert Brandes confirmed that his lawsuit was settled and described bullying, retaliation and termination.
The Tribune’s inquiry into West’s education produced another preserved exchange. West listed a Glendale High School diploma and a forestry degree from Umpqua Community College on his SEL 101 candidate filing. The newspaper requested supporting documents or authorization to verify those entries.
West responded by calling me “little Johnny,” calling the Tribune a “Tabloid” and writing, “your not going to bully the state into doing your dirty work. See you in court , drip, drip, drip.” The response supplied no diploma or degree document.
West is seeking a return to the county commission while the $5 million action challenges his subsequent statements and conduct. Hamlin faces the separate $1 million action and a jury demand. Joncus’s October letter places him in both disputes, while the investigation request seeks communications, financial records and testimony concerning the accusations and the alleged approaches to Glover.
The preserved messages accompany the court claims and requests for records. West described a plan that would “hit the airwaves,” promised “many phases to go” and wrote, “it’s not a threat it’s a promise.” The civil action now seeks his records, his communications and his answers under oath.
West is asking Josephine County voters to trust him with public office again. That request comes with a record of lawsuits against recall participants and messages promising a “learning lesson,” “many phases to go” and further disclosures about the publisher covering him. His own words raise a question his campaign must answer: How would he serve residents who challenge his decisions when this is how he has responded to people who challenge him? Voters deserve a commissioner whose commitment to the community includes the people who question, criticize and oppose him.
FORMAL DEMAND FOR IDENTIFICATION OF PURPORTED MILITARY RECORDS,
DISCLOSURE OF SOURCE, AND PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE
Date: September 13, 2026
Via: Email and Electronic Delivery
To: John West
From: John Oliver Riccio
Re: Purported Military Records of John Oliver Riccio
Mr. West:
This letter is a formal demand concerning your repeated written statements about military records that you claim, directly or by clear implication, concern my service in the United States Marine Corps.
Your statements are not being reconstructed from memory or attributed to you by a third party. They are contained in written electronic communications that have been preserved.
You have repeatedly claimed knowledge of my military records, described what you say those records contain, and stated or suggested that those records or information from them would eventually be made public.
Among those statements, you wrote:
“voters have the right to see why they kicked you out of the military.”
Exhibit A.
You later wrote:
“will see if the citizens think your pathetic when your military records show why you left early.”
Exhibit E.
In another communication, you stated:
“That’s the best you got why you were released from the military is way more interesting than all your other tabloid stuff.”
Exhibit F.
You also wrote:
“Military records, money you owe people across other states, even Oregon. Court records this will be fun for the people to see and read.”
Exhibit H.
And:
“Can’t wait for all the records to come out then the people will see the real little Johnny.”
Exhibit G.
Your statements went beyond merely claiming knowledge about my military service. You also wrote:
“Oh little Johny we are just getting started. We are in phase 1 with many phases to go it’s going to be fun. There is more to happen and you know what it is. Drip Drip Drip.”
Exhibit B.
You additionally stated:
“You started this I will finish it.”
Exhibit G.
These are your words. They have been preserved.
The question is therefore straightforward: What military records concerning me do you possess, where did you obtain them, and what have you done with them?
STATUS OF MY MILITARY RECORDS
My separation from the United States Marine Corps occurred substantially less than 62 years ago. My Official Military Personnel File has therefore not become an archival military record available for unrestricted public access.
I have never authorized you to obtain my complete Official Military Personnel File, DD Form 214, military medical records, Department of Veterans Affairs records, or any other protected nonpublic military or veterans record concerning me.
I have also undertaken inquiries concerning access to my federal records. Based upon the information presently available to me, I have identified no authorized release to you of my protected military or veterans records.
I possess authentic documentation establishing my Honorable Discharge from the United States Marine Corps. If it becomes necessary in an appropriate legal, governmental, or judicial proceeding, I am fully prepared to establish my actual military record through authentic documentation.
I am not, however, required to provide my private military records to you simply because you have repeatedly made allegations concerning them, and I will not do so.
This letter is not about whether I can establish my military service or discharge.
It is about your repeated claims concerning records you say exist.
You have claimed knowledge of those records. You have claimed knowledge of what they supposedly contain. You have repeatedly suggested that those records or their contents will be made available to voters, citizens, or the public.
You must now substantiate those representations.
YOUR FORMER PUBLIC OFFICE AND CURRENT CANDIDACY
During at least part of the period relevant to these matters, you were serving as an elected Josephine County Commissioner. You were subsequently removed from that office through a recall election and are presently again seeking election to the Josephine County Board of Commissioners.
Your statements concerning my purported military records specifically refer to “voters,” “citizens,” and “the people.”
For that reason, you must state whether you obtained, requested, accessed, received, reviewed, transmitted, discussed, or disseminated any purported military record concerning me while you were serving as a Josephine County Commissioner.
You must further state whether any Josephine County employee, elected official, contractor, computer system, email account, database, equipment, network, records system, or other county resource was used in any manner to locate, request, obtain, receive, review, store, copy, transmit, or disseminate information represented as being part of my military record.
If no county employee, official, system, account, equipment, database, or governmental resource played any role, say so plainly.
If any county resource or person acting through county government was involved, identify the person, source, system, date, and circumstances.
Because you are presently again seeking elected office, you must also identify whether any purported military record concerning me, or information you have represented as coming from such records, has been provided, discussed, circulated, or distributed in connection with your current candidacy, campaign activities, campaign communications, campaign personnel, political organizations, supporters, media contacts, social-media activity, or communications directed toward voters.
I am not asserting in this letter that you used your former public office to obtain my records or that you are presently using those records for campaign purposes.
I am demanding that you answer those questions because your own statements have made them relevant.
FORMAL DEMAND FOR INFORMATION
Within ten (10) calendar days of receiving this letter, provide a written response addressing the following:
1. State whether you currently possess, previously possessed, viewed, received, downloaded, photographed, copied, printed, scanned, transmitted, or were shown any DD Form 214, Official Military Personnel File document, discharge document, military personnel record, military medical record, VA record, or other document represented as an official military record concerning John Oliver Riccio.
2. Identify each such record or document.
3. Identify the source from which each record or item of information was obtained.
4. Identify every person, organization, government employee, government agency, contractor, attorney, political organization, campaign representative, public official, database, website, records repository, or other source that provided, displayed, transmitted, described, or provided access to the material.
5. State when and how each purported record was obtained or viewed.
6. Identify any FOIA request, Privacy Act request, Standard Form 180, authorization, consent, records request, subpoena, discovery request, court proceeding, government database, public filing, or other process through which you contend the information was lawfully obtained.
7. Identify any authorization bearing my signature that you contend authorized the release of protected military or veterans records to you or to someone acting on your behalf.
8. Identify every person or organization to whom you have provided, displayed, transmitted, emailed, texted, mailed, uploaded, published, summarized, described, or otherwise disseminated any purported military record or information you represented as originating from my military records.
9. State whether any such information has been supplied to a newspaper, journalist, publisher, website, social-media account, political organization, campaign, candidate, public official, government employee, attorney, private individual, or other third party.
10. State whether you requested, encouraged, directed, paid, assisted, or authorized another person to obtain military or veterans records concerning me.
11. State whether any Josephine County employee, official, contractor, computer, network, database, email account, telephone, records system, or other county resource was involved in obtaining or transmitting any purported military record concerning me.
12. State whether you have provided, discussed, displayed, transmitted, or otherwise used any purported military record or information represented as originating from my military records in connection with your present candidacy for Josephine County Commissioner.
13. If another person represented to you that he or she possessed my military records, identify that person and preserve the records and communications concerning them.
14. If you do not possess, and have never possessed or reviewed, authentic military records concerning me, state that plainly.
15. If your statements were based on rumor, information supplied by another person, speculation, or something other than authentic military records you personally reviewed, identify the factual basis for what you wrote.
16. If any purported military record concerning me has already been distributed, published, displayed, transmitted, or provided to another person, identify the material, the date, the method of distribution, and every recipient known to you.
There is no need for speculation in responding.
If you possess authentic records, identify them and identify their source.
If someone supplied purported records to you, identify that person.
If government resources were involved, identify them.
If you distributed the records or their purported contents, identify the recipients.
If you have no records, say so.
AUTHENTICITY AND POSSIBLE FALSIFICATION
The authenticity of any document represented as my military record is equally important.
If you possess a document represented as my DD Form 214, military discharge certificate, or other official military record, preserve that document exactly as you received it.
Federal law, including 18 U.S.C. § 498, specifically addresses forged, counterfeited, or falsely altered military or naval discharge certificates and certain conduct involving such documents.
Oregon law, including ORS 165.007 and other applicable provisions of Oregon law, separately addresses falsely made, completed, or altered written instruments and the knowing use or dissemination of forged instruments when the statutory requirements are satisfied.
This letter does not accuse you of forging a military record or committing any particular criminal offense.
It does put you on notice that the source, authenticity, acquisition, possession, and dissemination of any document represented as my military record are disputed and must be preserved.
If someone supplied you with a document represented as my military record, preserve the document and identify the source.
If you received multiple versions, preserve every version.
If a document was altered, annotated, cropped, edited, reproduced, or electronically modified after you received it, preserve both the original and every subsequent version.
FORMAL NOTICE TO PRESERVE EVIDENCE
You are hereby placed on formal notice to preserve all potentially relevant evidence concerning this matter.
This includes original electronic files, purported DD Form 214 documents, military personnel documents, photographs, scans, PDFs, screenshots, text messages, RCS messages, emails, direct messages, social-media communications, attachments, downloads, cloud-storage records, metadata, file-creation information, transmission records, and communications with third parties concerning my military service or purported military records.
You must also preserve communications concerning efforts to locate, request, obtain, acquire, reproduce, alter, discuss, transmit, disseminate, publish, or provide purported military records concerning me.
This preservation notice includes potentially relevant material stored on cellular telephones, computers, tablets, external drives, email accounts, messaging applications, social-media accounts, cloud-storage services, backup systems, and other electronic repositories within your possession, custody, or control.
Do not delete, destroy, modify, overwrite, manipulate, conceal, discard, wipe, or cause another person to destroy or alter potentially relevant evidence.
The written communications forming the basis of this demand have already been preserved and will be maintained in their original form.
YOUR WORDS REQUIRE AN ANSWER
This demand does not arise from something someone claims you said.
It arises from what you wrote.
You wrote that “voters have the right to see.”
You wrote that my “military records show why you left early.”
You wrote that information concerning why I supposedly left the military was “way more interesting.”
You wrote that military records would be “fun for the people to see and read.”
You wrote that you “Can’t wait for all the records to come out.”
You wrote that this was “phase 1 with many phases to go.”
You wrote, “There is more to happen.”
And you wrote:
“Drip Drip Drip.”
Those statements now require a factual explanation.
I am not asking you to debate my military service with me. I am not asking you for your opinion of me, the Grants Pass Tribune, or its reporting. I am not asking you to withdraw lawful political criticism.
I am asking you to substantiate statements you chose to put in writing.
What records do you have?
Where did you get them?
Who gave them to you?
Who have you given them to?
Were any governmental resources involved?
Have they been used or distributed in connection with your current candidacy?
If you have authentic records, identify their source.
If someone supplied purported records to you, identify that person.
If you have distributed them, identify the recipients.
If you have no records, state that clearly.
Provide your written response within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of this demand.
Failure to respond does not, by itself, establish criminal or civil liability. Your failure to respond will, however, be preserved along with your underlying written statements and this demand for whatever lawful evidentiary use may subsequently be appropriate.
Nothing in this letter waives any claim, defense, privilege, cause of action, remedy, evidentiary right, or other right available under Oregon or federal law. All rights are expressly reserved.
Govern yourself accordingly.
Respectfully,
John Oliver Riccio
Publisher
Grants Pass Tribune
Attachments: Exhibits A through H – Preserved Electronic Communications
CC:
DONCIOPRIVACYOFFICE@US.NAVY.
osd.mc-alex.oatsd-pclt.mbx.
privacyservice@va.gov
PrivacyOffice.VBACO@va.gov
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit A: Preserved text communication containing the statement concerning “voters” and military service.
Exhibit B: Preserved text communication containing “phase 1,” “many phases to go,” and “Drip Drip Drip.”
Exhibit C: Preserved electronic communication submitted with this demand.
Exhibit D: Preserved electronic communication submitted with this demand.
Exhibit E: Preserved text communication referring to “citizens” and “military records show why you left early.”
Exhibit F: Preserved text communication referring to why Riccio was allegedly “released from the military.”
Exhibit G: Preserved text communication containing “Can’t wait for all the records to come out” and “You started this I will finish it.”
Exhibit H: Preserved text communication referring to “Military records” and records being “fun for the people to see and read.”
