Man sentenced for beating wife with Bible, threatening her with guns

KEIZER, Ore. (KPTV/Gray News) - An Oregon man was sentenced to six years in prison for beating his wife with a Bible and threatening her with guns, according to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office on Friday.

According to the DA’s office, on the night of May 10, 2025, 42-year-old Jared Edward Dean Tresham’s wife and two children were asleep in their house. In the middle of the night, while intoxicated from alcohol, Tresham entered the bedroom he shared with his wife and began to hit her with a Bible, striking her on the head, arms, back and neck.

His wife tried to escape from the bedroom, but Tresham stopped her. He then retrieved a .45 caliber handgun and an AR-15-style rifle from their bedroom closet. According to the DA’s office, Tresham was already a convicted felon and not allowed to possess guns.

When his wife heard the slide of the gun “rack,” she ran downstairs and called 911.

Tresham followed and aimed the handgun at her forehead. He carried the rifle slung over his shoulder.

His wife ran to the garage, where officers with the Keizer Police Department found her.

Meanwhile, Tresham retreated into the house where his two children still were, and initiated a standoff with police and a crisis negotiator.

After about three hours, Tresham surrendered to police and was taken into custody.

A Marion County jury found Tresham guilty of the following:

• Unlawful use of a weapon constituting domestic violence with a firearm
• Coercion constituting domestic violence
• Two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon

Tresham was also ordered to serve two years of probation after his release.