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Ex-youth pastor attacked during sentencing on sex abuse plea

The Associated Press
August 22, 2018

https://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Ex-youth-pastor-attacked-during-sentencing-on-sex-13175558.php

This undated file photo provided by the Jackson County Jail shows Donald Biggs. The former youth pastor was attacked by an unknown man in the gallery in U.S. District Court in Medford, Ore., Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, during his sentencing hearing on a sex abuse charge.
Photo by Jackson County Jail

[with video]

A former youth pastor was attacked in federal court during his sentencing Wednesday on a sex abuse charge by an unknown man who lunged over the railing from the gallery.

Donald Courtney Biggs was being sentenced in U.S. District Court in Medford after admitting earlier this year to taking a 14-year-old girl on a church trip to Southern California with the intent to film her exiting the shower. Authorities previously said an investigation revealed he had hidden camera recordings involving dozens of victims.

The Mail Tribune, which was covering the hearing, said police Lt. Justin Ivens told reporters outside the courthouse that Biggs was transported to a local hospital to be checked for injuries after being punched once in the face.

The assailant, whose name was not released, was arrested on misdemeanor charges of obstructing governmental or judicial administration, fourth-degree assault and disorderly conduct. Although the attack occurred in federal court, the person will be charged in state court, Ivens said.

The attack came as Biggs' defense attorney was telling the judge his client regretted his actions.

Before that, victims who packed the courtroom had been giving impact statements.

Biggs pleaded guilty in February to one felony count of transporting with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

As part of a plea deal, nine other transportation and child pornography charges were dropped.

Biggs faces up to nearly 16 years in prison. Defense attorney Terry Kolkey had been arguing for a mandatory minimum 10-year sentence when the attack occurred.

Biggs has been held in the Jackson County Jail since early 2015, after a burglary at Mtn. church in Medford led investigators to a collection of hidden camera recordings.

Kevin Sonoff, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Portland, did not reply to an e-mail seeking comment.




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