Redmond man charged with assaulting woman at camp on BLM land

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A Redmond man was arrested late Friday night on charges he struck a woman on the head with a metal bar or similar object at a camp on BLM land just east of Redmond, Deschutes County sheriff's deputies said.

Deputies and Redmond Police officers were dispatched around 11 p.m. to the BLM land about a quarter-mile east of Redmond for a reported assault, Lt. Mike Biondi said.

The caller, a resident in the area, reported hearing a woman crying and went to her camp, finding her bleeding from the head.

Biondi said Redmond Fire Department paramedics responded and evaluated Sheree Cecil, 56, who was taken to St. Charles Redmond with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Biondi said an investigation found that for unknown reasons, Jeremy Schnecker, 41, went to the woman's camp and hit her in the head with a metal bar or similar object.

A Bend Police Department K-9 team was called in, and along with a Redmond Police drone pilot helped find Schnecker, who was taken into custody without incident.

Schnecker was taken to the county jail in Bend and booked on charges of second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and menacing. He was held Saturday on $65,000 bail.

Court records show Schnecker was charged late last month with first-degree criminal mischief, resisting arrest and second-degree disorderly conduct, damaging a Hummer H2, according to an initial charging document.

He also was charged with third-degree criminal mischief in March, second-degree criminal trespass in December and second-degree criminal trespass, interfering with a peace officer and resisting arrest in October.