Seattle Minister of Musician Timothy Dampier Gets 22 Years for Sex Crimes on Boys [UPDATE]

(Tim Dampier)

UPDATE at bottom of page. To read entire story start here:

Seattle Minister and Musician Tim Dampier Plead Guilty to 22 Counts of Sexual Misconduct

In May 2011, Pastor R.L. Manaway of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church set up a meeting between an adult male member of his church and minister and church musician Tim Dampier. The church member accused Dampier of molestation the October before. Pastor Manaway took it upon himself to have the two discuss the issue instead of going to police. The state of Washington does not mandate clergy to report sexual abuse to the local authorities.

Court documents stated during the meeting, Dampier reportedly admitted that "playful" touching occurred but denied molestation.

After Dampier was arrested, investigators say he finally admitted to molesting that victim named Kenny M. and several other boys.

Kenny M. told Fox News it took 10 years for him to come forward:

"Anything like that would make anyone feel suicidal and that's what I had," he said. "So that's why I had to let go and tell somebody because I couldn't hold it to myself."

Kenny M. was only 9 years old in 2001 when the incident occurred and he, as well, was a church musician. He stated Dampier liked to be affectionately called 'Uncle' or 'God Dad'.

Moving forward, the Seattle minister and musician Tim Dampier plead guilty of sexual abuse of young boys on last Thursday which charges him with 22 counts.

According to reports, Timothy L. Dampier, 39, abused 10 boys between 1997 and 2011, some members of his congregation, other members of youth programs he played a role in, according to the King County Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutors say his guilty plea is for charges that include:

• first- and second-degree rape of a child
• first-, second- and third-degree child molestation
• sexual exploitation of a minor
• and possession of child pornography

(Pastor R.L. Manaway)

Dampier has conveniently been serving in positions with easy access to young children to prey on as a foster parent in Seattle, Bellevue Boys & Girls Club worker, and a group home worker in Kent, and the Union Gospel Mission.

Dampier came under investigation by Seattle police after one of his alleged victims came forward in April 2011 and told police Dampier had started sexually molesting him when he was 10 and continued for three years, until 2002. The man, now 21, told police the molestation occurred in Dampier's van after church functions throughout King County, authorities said.

Other alleged victims and witnesses came forward during the investigation, according to court documents. Another man alleged that Dampier raped him, masturbated in front of him and showed him child pornography when he was between 12 and 13 years old in 2001 and 2002.

Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of 22 years in prison for Dampier who faces a sentencing range of 20 to just over 26 years in prison.

Source

UPDATE on Feb 24, 2013:

Former Seattle church minister and singer Timothy Dampier was sentenced Friday to 22 years in prison for molesting and raping nearly a dozen boys between 1997-2011.

Standing before a courtroom full of his victims and their families, Dampier told them he was remorseful for his crimes.

Dampier will serve his sentence at the Monroe Correctional Complex, where they have a specific unit and treatment program for sex offenders.

When Dampier is released, the judge ruled, he cannot have any contact with children or work at any church.

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