BEND, Ore. — A Redmond man and a California woman are facing serious charges in connection with the fatal shooting of a Bend man at a local motel in early January. The incident occurred at the Holiday Motel on Southeast Third Street, where Robert Lewis Treher, 34, was found dead in his rented room on January 3.
On Friday, a Deschutes County grand jury indicted Jessica Mae Sanders, 30, from Clearlake, Calif., and Jason Newton Loun, 38, of Redmond, on charges including second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, unlawful use of a weapon, and third-degree theft. The indictment follows an investigation into Treher’s death, which authorities believe resulted from a violent robbery.
According to Deschutes County District Attorney Mara Houck, the evidence suggests that Sanders entered Treher’s motel room and stole several items before shooting him with a 9-millimeter handgun. Loun, who is also an acquaintance of Treher, allegedly assisted Sanders by finding the victim and threatening him. He then drove Sanders to and from the scene of the crime.
Loun was arraigned on Monday afternoon via video from the Deschutes County Jail, where his bail was set at $1 million. During the hearing, Circuit Judge Alycia Sykora ordered that Loun have no contact with Treher’s family and scheduled his plea entry for March 24.
Treher was found alone in his room, and his vehicle was parked at the motel when his body was discovered. Bend Police had previously identified Sanders as a person of interest in the homicide investigation after she was linked to the victim. On the same day Treher’s body was found, Sanders was arrested in Redmond, along with the driver of a vehicle she was traveling in. Evidence found in the vehicle led to charges for methamphetamine delivery and possession.
Sanders, who had an outstanding warrant for her arrest from Lake County, Calif., was staying at Eagle Crest Resort prior to her arrest. She remains in custody at Deschutes County Jail due to the drug-related offenses. Loun was also apprehended by Redmond Police in the early hours of the morning on January 6.
Both Sanders and Loun are scheduled for further court proceedings, with Sanders set to appear in court for a plea hearing on March 21. The charges against them stem from events that allegedly took place on or around January 2, and they are both facing significant criminal consequences for their roles in the deadly incident.
In addition to the current charges, court records reveal that Sanders was convicted in 2018 in Lake County, Calif., for felony possession or receiving stolen property, adding to her criminal history.
As the case progresses, authorities continue to gather more information regarding the motives and circumstances surrounding Treher’s death, while the community remains shaken by the violent crime.
