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Malicious Sex Abuse Prosecution Headed for 3rd Trial
Eyewitness Testimony Ignored by Assistant District Attorney Sarah Dumont
By Edward Snook
Investigative Reporter
Timothy Tignor and his wife, Kasi
Clackamas County, Oregon – Executive Chef Timothy Tignor finished work at the Courtyard Marriott in Portland, Oregon on March 29, 2016, at 5:15 p.m. While traveling to his home in Milwaukie, Timothy began his yearly ritual of mourning his best friend’s death. Tignor’s father and closest friend passed away on March 29, 2011.
Tignor arrived at home and had a long conversation with an instructor from his former culinary school. They spoke about different culinary topics for about an hour or so. Afterwards, Timothy started walking to a Restaurant near his home, as his fiancé – now wife – Kasi wouldn’t get home from work that day until about 9:45 in the evening.
Tignor left the Restaurant and was headed home, listening to his head phones and thinking about the loss of his father when he was startled by a “strange woman” he didn’t know. According to Tignor, the woman, Dianna Bennett, began saying things to him. Mr. Tignor took his head phones off and heard her state, “You can’t talk to women that way, I’m calling the police.” Tignor was very confused as he listened to her talk to the 911 dispatcher. Timothy heard, as Bennett stated, “He’s – I don’t know what’s wrong with him but he’s like went to go grab me and he’s saying that you’re this and you’re whatever.” Within moments the police arrived. After speaking with Bennett alone, they arrested Timothy and charged him with Sex Abuse III.
Police Dismiss Eyewitness Testimony and Allegedly Lie in Their Reports
Milwaukie, Oregon Police Officer Hector Campos writes in his report that, “He (meaning an eyewitness) said he was sitting on the rock and heard the woman yelling for help. He said he saw the male chasing her down the street and then saw police pulling up. He did not see or hear anything else.” This was the entire content in Campos’ report regarding the eyewitness.
The eyewitness to this incident gives a much different account of this case as is witnessed by a video (view video in the online version of this article at www.usobserver.com) questioning of this witness by Private Investigator Kenn Thomas. This video shows, without any question whatsoever, that Officer Campos failed to ask the eyewitness any pertinent questions. Not only does the eyewitness have much more to say than Campos purported, he clearly saw the entire event and his rendition vindicates Timothy Tignor. In essence, any prudent person who compares the video of the eyewitness with Campos’ report would conclude that Campos lied in his police report. Further, when the eyewitness was asked what he told police by a Defense Investigator he stated, “I was asked for my ID and sent on my way.” Unbelievable. Officer Campos; your actions are deceitful and disgusting!
The video also proves beyond any doubt that Prosecutor Sarah Dumont has totally ignored this eyewitness testimony as she has attempted to falsely prosecute Tignor during two prior trials – at tax-payer expense I might add.
We have withheld the eyewitnesses name in this story due to the forthright nature of his testimony and because he didn’t want his name published. The eyewitness was taking criminal justice courses full time when this incident occurred, and he had never met Bennett or Tignor.
So, the first question that is raised is why didn’t Officer Campos ask more questions of the eyewitness if he was really trying to obtain the truth? The answer is that he wasn’t. The police simply made a rush to judgment and arrested an innocent Timothy Tignor, when even a moderate questioning of the eyewitness would have proven that Bennett was “lying.” You see, Bennett stated all kinds of things and even changed her story at least three different times. She states on the 911 call that Tignor “went to grab” her. She states, “went to grab” twice.
Officer Luke Strait took Bennett’s statement and writes in his report that Bennett told him that Tignor rubbed his privates up against her while having an erection, after he grabbed only her sweatshirt, never her skin or arm. Bennett told Strait that during the 911 call, Tignor was rubbing himself on the outside of his pants. After being led and coached by the police and Prosecutor Sarah Dumont, Bennett claimed at trial that Tignor’s hands were on the inside of his pants pockets rubbing himself. All of this happened as these participants ignored the fact that an eyewitness sat and watched the entire incident and stated that there was never any physical contact between the two. The eyewitness clearly stated that Tignor never grabbed her, or himself.
Based on the damning eye witness evidence, Dianna Bennett should be charged with filing a false police report, at the very least.
Clackamas County Assistant District Attorney Dumont has ignored eyewitness testimony, while she has made every attempt to twist the truth in open court. Dumont even had Tignor’s charges increased from Sex Abuse III to Sex Abuse I (minimum 75 months in prison) on the word of false accuser Dianna Bennett.
Prosecutor Tampers with Defense Witness
Dumont went so far as to tamper with a witness when she called Defense witness Timothy Stoutt, a Multnomah County Deputy Sheriff. Dumont called Stoutt and proceeded to tell him, “You know he (Tignor) drug her (Bennett) down the street.” No one in this case has stated that Tignor drug Bennett, so why would a deputy district attorney call a Defense witness and tell him this – obviously to try and deter or alter his testimony about Tignor’s character at the upcoming trial. Stoutt was quite upset about this, not only because a deputy district attorney was trying to tamper with his testimony, but even moreso, because Tignor and Stoutt are good friends. Stoutt and Tignor have been friends for over 7 years and Stoutt was Tignor’s “Best Man” at his wedding to Kasi on December 18, 2016.
After nearly two years, two mistrials and tens of thousands of dollars spent attempting to receive justice from the Clackamas County justice system, Timothy Tignor is starting the whole process over for a third time. However, this time justice will be served. The US~Observer will make sure of that. Everyone will know the complete facts of this case – this travesty of justice!
Tignor has recently hired Attorney Per Olson of the prestigious criminal defense law firm of Hoevet Olson Howes PC to represent him for his third trial.
Editor’s Note: Assistant District Attorney Sarah Dumont should be terminated. Dumont’s boss, District Attorney John Foote has been completely aware of the overwhelming facts in this case since December 4, 2017. Even though Foote’s job is to seek justice, he has chosen to turn a blind eye and ignore this third attempt to falsely prosecute Timothy Tignor. This will surely do great damage to his reputation – as it should.
The US~Observer would ask that anyone who has information on any of the participants in this case call 541-474-7885 or email editor@usobserver.com.
We will be certain to provide the public with the results of this entire case as soon as it is resolved. We will be focusing in part on the very questionable actions and rulings of the three Clackamas County judges who have ruled on Tignor’s case through his second trial. We have already determined that one of the judges was absolutely prejudiced and at least one other judge covered-up that prejudice.
