Denali Cox, a former manager at Pelican Brewery in Siletz Bay, was sentenced after being convicted of staging a fake robbery to cover up her theft of more than $17,000. Cox was found guilty on January 24, 2025, by a Lincoln County jury following a three-day trial.
On July 31, 2023, Cox called 911 to report a robbery, claiming that an unknown man had jumped out of the bushes, grabbed a bank deposit bag with over $17,000, and run away. She said she had chased the suspect but lost him in the woods. Law enforcement from multiple agencies, including Lincoln City Police, Oregon State Police, and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, responded immediately to the scene and conducted an extensive search for the suspect. However, no male suspect was found.
After further investigation, it was revealed that Cox had staged the robbery to conceal her theft from the brewery. She had stolen the money and fabricated the robbery report to cover it up. In October 2023, Cox was arrested in Hawaii and extradited back to Oregon to face charges related to the incident.
During the trial, the State presented 11 witnesses and over 56 exhibits. The jury deliberated for about three hours before convicting Cox of Aggravated Theft in the First Degree, a Class B Felony, and Initiating a False Report, a Class A Misdemeanor.
Cox was sentenced by Judge Amanda Benjamin on January 27, 2025. She received 24 months of supervised probation and was ordered to pay $17,434.77 in restitution to Pelican Brewery. Additionally, Cox received 36 months of bench probation and 17 days in jail for initiating the false report, with credit for time already served. She may also be required to pay restitution for the costs incurred by law enforcement during the investigation.
This case was resolved thanks to extensive police work, and law enforcement officials were commended for their thorough investigation into Cox’s actions.