Ex-beauty queen from Redmond arrested in drug raid

A 23-year-old who lived in Redmond and won the Miss Teen Oregon-World competition five years ago was arrested Wednesday when Keizer police conducted two raids as part of a long-running drug investigation.

KPTV reports Jamie France was one of three people arrested on methamphetamine charges, but the more serious crimes in the case, which dates back to June of this year, involve Erin and Jarrod Wells. Each of them face child neglect charges because two young boys, ages 4 and 7, were home at the time the search warrant was served.

Jarrod Wells, 37, was found in a Salem motel room about three miles from the home with France, who was crowned Miss Teen Oregon-World in 2009. Police said they discovered heroin, cocaine, meth and records of drug sales in the room at the Rodeway Inn, according to The Oregonian.

Police also said they found heroin and methamphetamine strewn about the home and within easy reach of the two boys at the home on Saundra Lee Way. They also found garbage stacked, a burned mattress, numerous hand-held torches and generally chaotic conditions, officers said.

The Statesman Journal reports Friday that France was arrested on charges of possession of heroin, methamphetamine and suboxone (an FDA-approved treatment for opiate dependence) and taken to the Marion County jail with a $30,000 bail.

A family member of France who did not want to appear on camera described France Friday as a smart and talented young woman who graduated from Redmond High with much more than her crowns — including a Ford Foundation scholarship.

A district spokeswoman confirmed to NewsChannel 21 that France graduated from the school in 2009, but said she couldn’t provide any other details about her academic record.

“One of the points we’re trying to make is that most people believe your heroin and controlled substance users are just losers, and that they’re not everyday average or ordinary folks,” said Keizer Deputy Police Chief Jeff Kuhns told the Salem newspaper. “But what we’re finding out more and more is that they are truly people that came from good lives, and they’ve ruined their lives by becoming involved in these drugs.”

In 2009, France was a senior at Redmond High School when she was crowned Miss Teen Utah-Oregon. A press release congratulating her on the victory described her numerous charity activities and a list of hobbies typical of any active Oregon teenager: Reading, writing, hiking, riding bikes and hanging out with friends.

France also emphasized her love of animals and a strong belief in fighting animal abuse, describing an overseas opportunity to volunteer at an endangered tortoise refuge as “an amazing experience.”

She went on to compete at the Miss Teen United States-World Pageant in Houston, Texas in July of 2009. Photographs posted to the pageant blog at the time show a glowing, smiling France posing with fellow contestants.

But at some point between the pageants and her Wednesday arrest, France was involved in a car accident that resulted in a back injury, Kuhns said.

“That’s part of her history,” he said. “She was prescribed painkillers and once that ran out, she turned to heroin. It’s a very common story.”

This pattern is all-too familiar to Salem-area police.

“We’re seeing more and more of it because there are systems in place now that have made a big impact on pharmacy fraud,” Kuhns explained. “People presenting multiple prescriptions at multiple pharmacies are now being identified or prevented from getting painkillers. So while those systems are well-intentioned, this is part of the fallout we’re seeing.”

“Some people who became addicted to controlled substances legally prescribed to them at one point are now having to turn to illicit drugs to feed their habit,” he continued. “One of the easiest is heroin.”

Back in January, France and an 18-year-old driver were cited for DUII after their cars collided head-on on Highway 26 near Manning in Washington County. Her passenger and both drivers were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

On Sunday night, France posted a link to her Facebook page on the news of the Redmond death of Jamie Garr, a 19-year-old whose body was found that day in a dry canal near Timber’s Bar and Grill.

“This is so sad,” France wrote, noting that Friday night, another Redmond resident, Sam Villa. 21. was found in a burned-out car on her street in northwest Redmond. She said she’d known Garr since she was in middle school “and I was there at Timber’s that night, trying to help her family find her. … I’m not sure if this is some sort of sign or not, but I feel deeply for both families.”