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.
“safety precautions” or conflict of interest? Would anyone describe the Jefferson County Jail as “safe?”
What no guns?? This could have been handled so much better if everyone there had been armed to the teeth!!! More gun = less gun violence according to the national redneck association
You seem infatuated by guns.
Too bad you aren’t also infatuated by thinking, or other mundane things normal people indulge in.
Yeah, I just said you weren’t normal. Pick a favorite crayon, this time don’t eat it.
What no knives? More knifes = less knife violence.
That is a tired argument in favor of guns.
Unclefesterd, there where plenty of firearms to go around, just intelligent people responding to the situation. Now go hide back in mommy’s basement and have another hit.
How about a protest on Police domestic abuse?
I’m saddened to see this. Blair is a good man from a good family, and has been an upstanding member of this community for a very long time. I would bet there’s more to this story. I hope it all gets sorted out.
And he’s an alcoholic, morbidly obese addict who has major issues with his family. Don’t forget that part.
With all due respect, deputy Belding was a bully back in elementary and middle school. I was the recipient of his wrath for a long time. I hate to say this, but some things do not change. It is my thought that the same thing he did to his stepson is the same thing he did to me and other people back in school. It is my hope that this ordeal will change him and make him see the error of his ways. It took me 20 years to finally forgive him. I wish him the best.
Oh Sheriff Nelson, how many complaints have been lodged against this guy? If he abuses his own child one can imagine how he treats staff and inmates. If you would terminate those that violate policy instead of those that you just don’t like then maybe you wouldn’t have such a mess on your hands all the time.
Nice mug shot. He looks like he is absolutely fried…
I couldn’t think of any other deputy more deserving of a night in jail then that POS
This man was a bully back in elementary school and middle school. I experienced his wrath many times. Some people never change. Because I have grown up, I have learned to forgive him and let it go after 27 years. Whether it be God himself or, karma, we always get ours in the end. It is my hope that this incident will wake him up and he will change his ways for the better.