UPDATE: California woman pleads guilty to multiple counts, sentenced to 22 years in death of Bend man
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Jessica Mae Sanders pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree manslaughter, and felon in possession of a firearm for the January 2025 fatal shooting of 34-year-old Robert Lewis Treher at a Bend motel.
Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels told KTVZ News on Tuesday that Sanders, 30, was sentenced to 22 years in prison.
Co-defendant Jason Newton Loun is scheduled to go to trial in early 2027.
The conviction follows an investigation into the death of Treher, who was found dead in early January 2025 inside his rented room at the Holiday Motel on Southeast 3rd Street in Bend.
A Deschutes County grand jury previously indicted Sanders, of Clearlake, California, and Loun, 38, of Redmond, on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, unlawful use of a weapon, and third-degree theft.
During court proceedings following the initial indictments, prosecutors outlined the roles of both defendants in the fatal robbery.
Deputy District Attorney Mara Houck stated that evidence showed Loun transported Sanders to the motel, where she entered Treher’s room. Houck said Sanders “stole a number of items” before shooting Treher with a nine-millimeter handgun.
Prosecutors alleged that Loun assisted and encouraged Sanders by locating and intimidating Treher, in addition to providing transportation to and from the site. Deschutes County Circuit Judge Alycia Sykora maintained Loun’s bail at $1 million.
Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller stated that a motel staff member discovered Treher, who was the sole occupant of the room, while his van remained parked at the property. Miller noted that Bend Police identified Sanders as a person of interest on the day Treher’s body was found.
Sanders, who was an acquaintance of Treher, had been residing at Eagle Crest Resort and had an active arrest warrant out of Lake County, California.
Investigators, supported by Redmond Police and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, executed a traffic stop near SW 27th Street and Juniper Avenue in Redmond.
Officers arrested Sanders and the vehicle’s driver after finding evidence inside the car, initially holding Sanders at the Deschutes County Jail on methamphetamine charges.
Court documents noted that the homicide occurred “on or about” January 2nd, 2025 and recorded that Sanders had a 2018 felony conviction in Lake County for possessing stolen property.
Following Sanders’ guilty plea yesterday, court records show that Loun’s jury trial is scheduled to begin February 23rd, 2027 and run through March 2nd, 2027.
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