Long-time Deschutes County Jail deputy charged with assaulting teen stepson

During family dispute, argument; 15-year-old has minor injury

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ ) – A long-time Deschutes County Jail deputy was arrested Saturday night on charges of assaulting his 15-year-old stepson during an argument and has been placed on administrative leave, officials said Sunday.

The sheriff’s office received a report around 8:30 p.m. of a domestic dispute when a man identified as corrections Deputy Blair Belding, 42, had assaulted his teenage stepson during a family dispute, Bend police Lt. Clint Burleigh said.

The dispute occurred at a Bend address that is located in the sheriff’s office response area, so deputies got the initial call, Burleigh said. Deputies then contacted Bend police and asked that they conduct the investigation. Bend officers were assisted by Redmond police officers during the investigation, Burleigh added.

Belding was contacted and cooperated with officers throughout the investigation, Burleigh said. Sheriff’s Sgt. William Bailey told NewsChannel 21 Belding has been a corrections deputy with the agency for more than 18 years.

An investigation determined that around 7 p.m. Saturday, an argument occurred between family members at Belding’s home. Belding became involved in the dispute with the 15-year-old family member, causing a minor injury, Burleigh said.

Belding was arrested without incident on charges of fourth-degree assault and strangulation. He was first taken to the Deschutes County Jail for processing, then transported by Bend police to the Jefferson County Jail in Madras, “where he was lodged for safety precautions,” Burleigh said in a news release.

Bailey said the sheriff’s office has placed Belding on administrative leave as a result of the investigation.

Burleigh said he could not speak to whether alcohol was a factor, but the Jefferson County Jail record showed Belding was being held on $40,000 bail and for "detox" for alcohol.