A 20-year-old Medford man is being held in the Jackson County Jail following his arrest Tuesday in an ongoing investigation involving allegations of sexual abuse against a teenage girl, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives with the agency’s Special Victims Unit are continuing to investigate the case and believe there may be additional victims who have not yet contacted law enforcement.
Evan James Sutherlin, 20, of Medford, was arrested Tuesday morning at a business in the 500 block of the Medford Center. The Sheriff’s Office said Sutherlin was taken into custody as part of an investigation that began more than two months ago and has since been handled by detectives assigned to cases involving sexual offenses and crimes against vulnerable victims.
Sutherlin was lodged in the Jackson County Jail on charges of first-degree rape, third-degree sexual abuse and first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. The allegations remain criminal charges, and Sutherlin is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began June 2, 2026, when deputies responded to a report involving the alleged sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl in the Jacksonville area. Sutherlin was 19 years old at the time of the reported incident. After the initial response by patrol deputies, the investigation was transferred to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit.
SVU detectives continued investigating the allegations during the weeks that followed, ultimately leading to Sutherlin’s arrest Tuesday. The Sheriff’s Office identified the investigation as JCSO Case 26-2783.
Although an arrest has now been made, investigators said the case remains active. Detectives believe Sutherlin may have had contact with other potential victims and are asking members of the public who may have relevant information to come forward. The Sheriff’s Office has not disclosed what evidence or investigative developments led detectives to believe additional victims may exist, and no additional alleged victims were identified in the information released Tuesday.
The request for information is directed toward anyone who may know something about Sutherlin or circumstances that could be relevant to the continuing investigation. Information provided to detectives could assist investigators in determining whether the allegations currently under investigation involve an isolated case or whether other incidents may have occurred.
The charges Sutherlin faces are allegations that will proceed through the criminal justice system, where prosecutors will be required to establish the elements of any offenses pursued in court. His arrest and booking do not constitute a finding of guilt.
The Sheriff’s Office is encouraging anyone with information connected to Sutherlin or the investigation to contact Special Victims Unit Detective Jill Wenzel at 541-770-8928. Investigators are continuing to gather information as the case moves forward.