Charges: Minister abused boys he met through churches, charities
SEATTLE -- Police have arrested a minister and formerly licensed foster parent accused of sexually abusing boys he met through churches and charitable youth programs, and investigators believe there may be additional victims.
Timothy L. Dampier, 34, has been charged with one count of child molestation in the first degree, and four counts of child molestation in the second degree. The charges address multiple instances of alleged abuse endured by three victims between May 2001 and May 2003, which coincides with the four years during which he served as a foster parent.
Dampier has also been involved in a number of Seattle-area youth programs at the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, New Hope Baptist Church, Ruth Dykeman Children's Center, Ruther Child Center, Samuel House, Union Gospel Mission and Seattle Parks and Recreation. He also works as a minister at several Seattle churches, detectives said.
When Dampier was hired as a musician at the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in the city's Central District last month, a member of the church reported having been sexually abused by Dampier when he was 10 years old, according to the statement of probable cause. The man said Dampier abused him inside his van after church functions for three years, and added he was concerned for the safety of the children at the church.
"After hearing the charges, my knees just, my knees physically buckled and my heart just sank," said Rev. Robert Manaway, pastor of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. "Kids would run up and pull his hair, talking, laughing. That's the interaction we saw with him with children in our church."
In 2002, Dampier allegedly abused an 11-year-old boy at the Samuel House, a group home in Kent where he worked at the time. A witness told detectives he walked into a room and saw Dampier fondling the victim's genitals. The witness said Dampier reached out and tried to touch his thigh as well, but he managed to evade his grasp.
Another victim said Dampier raped him multiple times between 2001 and 2002 at Dampier's Seattle home. The man, who was 12 or 13 at the time, said Dampier showed him pornography, including video footage of a child he knew masturbating. The victim said Dampier claimed to have "photographs of other children's genitals and used them as a sort of 'blackmail' when talking to the other kids, threatening to show the pictures," the statement said.
Detectives said Dampier brought home two teenage boys in March of this year, and at least one of them slept in his bed with him. He knew the boys through the Bellevue Boys and Girls Club, they said. Dampier had been working at the Boys and Girls Club, but was suspended when allegations surfaced.
A woman told investigators Dampier had filmed her underage sons without their knowledge while they were living with him between 2006 and 2007.
When questioned by police, Dampier "admitted to multiple instances of inappropriate sexual contact with various children during the early 2000s," the document said.
Dampier said he had engaged in sex acts with a teenage relative, and had videotaped the incident. He also admitted to having recently brought two boys he knew through the Boys and Girls Club, but said no abuse had taken place.
He added he'd kept photographs of minors in his home, but destroyed them after his wife found them, according to the statement.
Detectives said Dampier had been investigated for inappropriate sexual contact with children at least four different times in the past, but because witnesses did not wish to cooperate with investigators, he was never charged.
Dampier is being held at the King County Jail on $500,000 bail. He has a prior conviction for driving with a suspended license.
Because Dampier said he had "engaged in playful sexual touching with multiple male children" some of whose names he could not remember, detectives believe there may be additional victims. The investigation is ongoing.
Timothy L. Dampier, 34, has been charged with one count of child molestation in the first degree, and four counts of child molestation in the second degree. The charges address multiple instances of alleged abuse endured by three victims between May 2001 and May 2003, which coincides with the four years during which he served as a foster parent.
Dampier has also been involved in a number of Seattle-area youth programs at the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, New Hope Baptist Church, Ruth Dykeman Children's Center, Ruther Child Center, Samuel House, Union Gospel Mission and Seattle Parks and Recreation. He also works as a minister at several Seattle churches, detectives said.
When Dampier was hired as a musician at the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in the city's Central District last month, a member of the church reported having been sexually abused by Dampier when he was 10 years old, according to the statement of probable cause. The man said Dampier abused him inside his van after church functions for three years, and added he was concerned for the safety of the children at the church.
"After hearing the charges, my knees just, my knees physically buckled and my heart just sank," said Rev. Robert Manaway, pastor of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. "Kids would run up and pull his hair, talking, laughing. That's the interaction we saw with him with children in our church."
In 2002, Dampier allegedly abused an 11-year-old boy at the Samuel House, a group home in Kent where he worked at the time. A witness told detectives he walked into a room and saw Dampier fondling the victim's genitals. The witness said Dampier reached out and tried to touch his thigh as well, but he managed to evade his grasp.
Another victim said Dampier raped him multiple times between 2001 and 2002 at Dampier's Seattle home. The man, who was 12 or 13 at the time, said Dampier showed him pornography, including video footage of a child he knew masturbating. The victim said Dampier claimed to have "photographs of other children's genitals and used them as a sort of 'blackmail' when talking to the other kids, threatening to show the pictures," the statement said.
Detectives said Dampier brought home two teenage boys in March of this year, and at least one of them slept in his bed with him. He knew the boys through the Bellevue Boys and Girls Club, they said. Dampier had been working at the Boys and Girls Club, but was suspended when allegations surfaced.
A woman told investigators Dampier had filmed her underage sons without their knowledge while they were living with him between 2006 and 2007.
When questioned by police, Dampier "admitted to multiple instances of inappropriate sexual contact with various children during the early 2000s," the document said.
Dampier said he had engaged in sex acts with a teenage relative, and had videotaped the incident. He also admitted to having recently brought two boys he knew through the Boys and Girls Club, but said no abuse had taken place.
He added he'd kept photographs of minors in his home, but destroyed them after his wife found them, according to the statement.
Detectives said Dampier had been investigated for inappropriate sexual contact with children at least four different times in the past, but because witnesses did not wish to cooperate with investigators, he was never charged.
Dampier is being held at the King County Jail on $500,000 bail. He has a prior conviction for driving with a suspended license.
Because Dampier said he had "engaged in playful sexual touching with multiple male children" some of whose names he could not remember, detectives believe there may be additional victims. The investigation is ongoing.
