Accused Texas Sex Offender Tracked Down on S. Oregon Coast After Week's Search

Published 06/23/26 at 6:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Gold Beach, Oregon) - Curry County officers arrested a Texas fugitive on the south Oregon coast authorities Sunday after a week-long search in the remote Agness area.

According to the Curry County Sheriff’s Office, two deputies, an Oregon State Police trooper and six U.S. Marshals located Kenneth Leatherwood at about 12:35 p.m. on June 23 in a heavily wooded campsite near Lucas Lodge. Leatherwood had eluded law enforcement since June 16, when deputies learned he was in the Agness area driving a stolen vehicle.

“After a long week of searching, Leatherwood was located and taken into custody without incident,” CCSO said.

Leatherwood was wanted in Texas on a felony warrant related to child sex crimes. He was taken into custody without incident.

Leatherwood’s dog was found in good shape and will be returned to Leatherwood’s family.

There was heavy police presence in that area of the south Oregon coast last week, alarming some residents and visitors to the area. CCSO was quick to point he was not wanted for anything related to murder and was not on any FBI list.

At the time, police said to not approach him and that he might've been armed and dangerous.

The Sheriff’s Office thanked the Oregon State Police, OSP’s SWAT team, the U.S. Marshals, and members of the Agness community for their cooperation and support throughout the search.

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