MEDFORD, Ore. – The Medford community is grappling with concerns over the potential return of a convicted sex offender, former youth pastor Donald Biggs, who was arrested in 2015 for child pornography-related charges.
Biggs, who secretly filmed young girls during church events and trips without their consent, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty in 2018.
However, recent developments have raised alarm among residents, particularly the victims’ families. Kevin Smith, the father of two of Biggs’s victims, revealed that Biggs was initially scheduled for release in 2030, but a change in sentencing guidelines has led to his earlier release.
Biggs has since been placed in a halfway house in Portland, sparking fears that he may soon be relocated back to Medford.
“We’re trying to make sure the public is aware and that the system knows we don’t want him back in the community,” Smith stated, expressing his frustration with the process. “We want to stop this from happening as soon as possible.” Smith and other concerned community members have been vocal about the potential threat Biggs’s return could pose to the safety of Medford’s children.
They are calling for public awareness and action to prevent the convicted felon from being relocated back to the area.
According to Smith, the wheels are already in motion to bring Biggs back, and local residents are eager to intervene before it’s too late.
The case has raised broader questions about how the criminal justice system handles offenders who have committed serious crimes against vulnerable populations.
While Biggs’s parole officer has attempted to bring him back to Medford, the community remains concerned about the potential impact on local safety. “These types of crimes leave lasting effects, and our priority must always be the safety of our children,” Smith added. The Medford community has been active in their efforts to keep Biggs from returning, with some residents organizing petitions and attending public meetings.
Local officials have yet to make an official statement regarding Biggs’s potential return, but the situation remains a point of contention for many who believe he should remain distanced from the area. As concerns continue to grow, Medford residents are rallying together to ensure that the safety of their community remains a top priority, and to prevent a convicted child offender from re-entering the area.
The coming weeks will likely see more public discourse as the process moves forward, with many hoping that Biggs’s return to Medford can still be stopped.