Portland man arrested for stealing $20,000 of golf gear from Powell Butte resort

Bend, ORE. (KTVZ) --- A 44-year-old Portland man was arrested Friday, Aug. 21, in connection with the theft of approximately $20,000 worth of golfing equipment from a resort in Powell Butte, Ore.

Matthew Wayne Chavis was taken into custody at a storage unit in Portland on charges of Aggravated Theft I, Burglary II and Criminal Trespass II.

An employee at Brasada Ranch, located at 16986 SW Brasada Ranch Road in Powell Butte, reported the theft of golf clubs, golf bags and other golfing equipment on July 20, 2026.

Deputies with the Crook County Sheriff's Office investigated the case and tracked down the stolen items after discovering them listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace.

Deputies matched serial numbers shown in photos on the Facebook Marketplace advertisement by contacting the golf club manufacturer, who confirmed the clubs had been sold to Brasada Ranch. One advertisement photo showed a storage unit identification placard. A deputy searched storage unit facilities across the Portland metropolitan area and matched the business logo displayed in the ad.

Deputies obtained security camera footage showing Chavis moving the golf clubs into his Portland storage unit. Investigators applied for and received a search warrant for the unit and arranged a controlled buy to meet Chavis at the location.

Chavis arrived early for the planned meeting on Friday, Aug. 21 and deputies arrested him without incident. During an interview with deputies, Chavis said some golf club sets had allegedly been sold to other people. Deputies then executed the search warrant on the storage unit and found the reported stolen golf bags inside.

Deputies transported Chavis to the Crook County Jail. Deputy Dakota Peterson served as the case agent and Lt. Mitch Madden provided the investigation report. The Crook County Sheriff's Office referred the case to the Crook County District Attorney's Office for prosecution.