Medford Police DepartmentA father didn’t let court barriers get in the way of him expressing his anger as he jumped the divider to punch a paedophile who’d abused his daughters.
The man who was being convicted, 40-year-old Donald Courtney Biggs, appeared at James A. Redden Federal Courthouse in Medford, Oregon, US, on Wednesday (August 22).
Biggs was awaiting his sentence for secretly recording children using the bathroom and showering.
He was a former youth pastor at the Mountain Christian Fellowship in Medford, and committed crimes against the children in his home, on church trips and at summer camp.
Google MapsBiggs was only caught out when text messages to a 14-year-old girl were found on his phone.
According to KOBI5, Biggs pleaded guilty to ‘transport with the intent to commit criminal sexual activity with a minor’ earlier this year.
At Wednesday’s hearing, victims testified against the paedophile, with the courtroom being described as ‘a pressure cooker of emotions’.
An eyewitness at the scene, Jacob Elkin, explained how the father leapt over the railings at the courthouse.
Jacob described how the father attacked at ‘full force, just like Superman, it looked like he flew through the air right into him and just punched him’.
Following the dramatic events, the sentencing came to a halt and Medford police were called.
MPD Lieutenant Justin Ivens explained the police ‘ultimately determined a witness, who was inside the court proceedings during the sentencing hearing… went over the partition and punched the subject that was being sentenced’.
The father was then arrested on suspicion of assault.
Jacob has now set up a GoFundMe page to help pay the dad’s legal fees.
The witness explained:
Of course you know, (I’ve) never really a proponent for violence but I felt like in this situation it brought a little bit of relief to all those girls who’ve been in this situation for years. [sic]
For those who have had a hard time with that, I felt like it was a little piece of justice today as harsh as that may sound. It felt good.
The GoFundMe page reads:
A father of two of the victims did what every person in that room wanted to. He flew like the man of steel himself and punched Donny square in the face.
I am starting this go fund me to cover any charges he may face and just a good ol thanks for being a hero! Please donate to this great man! [sic]
The page had a goal of $5,000, which it has since exceeded.
An update on the page added:
[The father] was released last night from the county jail. We so appreciate everything you all have donated to him and his family. The money will go to any charge fines he may face. [sic]
Biggs’ sentencing resumed yesterday (Thursday, August 23).
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Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.