January 4, 2024 5:30 a.m.  

A Level III Sex Offender has been taken into custody after he allegedly wrote a letter to a minor child.

On Wednesday, deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office received a report that 44-year old Uriah Shawn Strauss of Roseburg sent a letter to a minor child at a local high school. The letter reportedly outlined Strauss’ desire to strike up a romantic relationship with a woman of at least 16 years of age.

Strauss was located at the Roseburg Rescue Mission where he was interviewed and taken into custody on the charge of attempted unlawful contact with a child.

DCSO had previously notified the public that Strauss was sending letters that were filled with sexually explicit content, causing alarm and apprehension regarding personal safety to various women in and out of the community.

Lieutenant Brad O’Dell said, “We renew our request that anyone who has received a similar letter from Strauss, especially anyone under the age of 18, to contact our office”. O’Dell said, “We believe that Strauss has likely attempted contact with other juveniles. It is important that we hear from anyone who Strauss has contacted or attempted to contact”.

Strauss is detained without bail in the Douglas County Jail.