Sandy man who stole goods worth more than $65,000 from a self-storage lockers gets 22 months in prison

OREGON CITY, Or. -- A Sandy man who stole items valued at more than $65,000 from a self-storage business was sentenced to 22 months in prison Friday. 

Joseph Wayne Kautz pled guilty in Clackamas County Circuit Court to two counts of Aggravated Theft in the First Degree. 

Kautz, 43, currently is an Oregon State Prison inmate serving a 23-month for violating probation in a Marion County case. The Clackamas County sentence is consecutive to his current sentence.

Kautz rented a unit at Northwest Self Storage located at 36800 Industrial Way in Sandy. Between April and June 2025, Kautz used bolt cutters to remove locks off several storage units, replacing them with his own locks. 

Among the goods Kautz stole: a sizeable antique pocket watch collection, tools, jewelry, a wedding dress, snowboards and an irreplaceable item -- a glass ball containing the ashes of one victim’s son.

Kautz sold some of the stolen items at Portland and Gresham pawn shops. 

Kautz has prior convictions for burglary, theft and possession of methamphetamine. 

The Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office acknowledges the diligent work of the Sandy Police Department in investigating these crimes. 

Deputy District Attorney Emily Korte prosecuted the case.

Clackamas County Circuit Court case 25CR36878