Seattle Police Seek More Victims in Child Rape Case against Church Singer Dampier

By Dana Rebik
Q13 FOX
May 18, 2012

http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-more-potential-victims-in-church-singer-child-rape-case-20120517,0,3248843.story

Seattle police say they believe that for at least the past 10 years well-known church musician and singer Timothy Dampier has been sexually abusing young boys -- and they are asking that anyone who might have been victimized to call them.

Dampier was arrested in May 2011 after a young man told a pastor about the abuse he says he endured when he was 9 years old.

“To think about it was sickening and degrading and I mean honestly there was no lower point in my life,” said Kenny M.

In November 2010, Kenny told his pastor, Robert Lee Manaway, about the abuse, but court documents show Manaway never reported it. Then Kenny told the reverend of the New Hope Baptist Church, where Dampier had recently been hired as an organist.

“When this young man told me this, it’s not my job to figure out what happened or whether he’s telling the truth. My job is to call the police and that’s what I did,” said Robert Jeffrey Sr.

Dampier's trial is currently scheduled for Sept. 18.

So far, detectives have identified 10 alleged victims in this case, resulting in 22 charges being filed aganst Dampier, but detectives said they believe there are others out there.

“Just because he’s in custody is no reason to go, 'Well, I don’t need to come forward now. He’s already been charged with 22 crimes.' If he’s done countless more crimes against how many more victims out there, we want them to come forward because they deserve justice,” Seattle police detective Jeff Kappel said.

Manaway, of the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in Seattle, has never explained why he didn't call police.

“I hope that it weighs on his conscience,” said DeAnn Yamamoto, of the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center.

“Even if a mandatory reporting law doesn’t exist for your profession, it seems as though just on your own as a responsible adult who cares for children, you would make that effort to protect children, not only this child but any future possible victim. It’s very disheartening to know that does not happen,” said Yamamoto.

Kenny M. says although it was difficult to talk about, he encourages other victims to do the same.

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of. You were a child and he’s a grown man so let him get all the punishment he deserves.”

Dampier had ties to several African-American churches in the greater Seattle area and had worked at the group home Samuel House in Kent and the Union Gospel Mission. At the time of his arrest he was working at the Bellevue Boys and Girls Club.

Anyone who was victimized or may know someone who was can call the Seattle Sexual Police Sexual Assault Unit at 206-684-5575. Anonymous tips are welcome.