A Texas man wanted on child sex charges is back in custody after a tense, days-long search through the southern Oregon woods that ended at a remote riverside lodge near Agness.
Kenneth Leatherwood, described by authorities as a fugitive from Bastrop, Texas, was arrested without incident Tuesday afternoon and his dog was safely recovered, according to KPTV. The capture wrapped up a multi-agency manhunt that pulled state and federal officers into dense forest near Lucas Lodge.
The Curry County Sheriff’s Office said Leatherwood was taken into custody shortly after 12:30 p.m. with assistance from the Oregon State Police and U.S. Marshals, per KPTV. Investigators found him camping in thick timber near the lodge and moved in quietly. Authorities had been combing the area since June 16 after tips that he had been spotted with a stolen vehicle.
Earlier reporting from KOIN notes that Leatherwood showed up at Lucas Lodge on June 15, prompting what lodge managers described as an unusually large response for the tiny community. They told the outlet that roughly 60 law enforcement officers ultimately converged on the area as the search ramped up.
During the manhunt, deputies checking one of the cabins found only Leatherwood’s dog, according to KOIN. The outlet reports the dog has since been returned to family. That same report says Leatherwood told officers he could not start his truck because its OnStar system had locked it after the vehicle was reported stolen.
Where It Happened
Lucas Lodge sits at the confluence of the Rogue and Illinois rivers in the remote Agness area and operates as a multigenerational, family-run fishing lodge, according to Lucas Lodge. The property lies several miles inland from Gold Beach and is accessed by narrow forest roads, terrain that officials said made the search trickier than a typical roadside stop.
The lodge’s online listing highlights rustic cabins and a small store that serve seasonal visitors, a setup that underscores just how isolated the spot can feel in the summer months. For locals, the sudden flood of patrol cars, tactical gear and federal agents was about as far from a quiet fishing getaway as it gets.
Legal Next Steps
Leatherwood is accused of sex-related crimes involving a child in Texas, allegations that originated in Bastrop and could lead to his extradition there for prosecution, local reporting notes. Officials have not outlined any new Oregon charges tied directly to the capture, and it remains unclear when or where he will be transferred, according to KOIN.
The Curry County Sheriff’s Office led the local response, coordinating with state troopers and federal marshals to track Leatherwood through the steep, forested terrain around Agness.
What Residents Should Know
During the search, authorities urged residents not to approach the suspect and to pass any sightings or tips directly to law enforcement. KPTV reports the sheriff’s office asked anyone with information to call 541-247-3242, option 9, or 911.
Lodge managers told reporters that the surge of law enforcement was highly unusual for the quiet Agness area, where most visitors are more likely to be hauling fishing gear than tactical equipment. As of publication, the sheriff’s office had not released booking details or a transfer timeline for Leatherwood.
