Published: April 13, 2007 11:47 am         

Stillwater man faces lewd molestation charge

A Stillwater man has been charged in Payne County with one count of lewd molestation for his alleged inappropriate behavior with a 5-year-old child.

On April 5, an arrest warrant was issued for Damion Lawrence Tippett, 21. An investigation began when the child’s mother first talked to police officers in January.

The 5-year-old allegedly disclosed to her mother that Tippett, a friend of the family and known as “Day-Day” to the girl, had felt down her pants and “dug” in her panties.

The mother told officers that it was not uncommon for Tippett to stay the night at her house and visit and she believes the incident took place sometime between Dec. 4 and Dec. 6, the last time he was at the residence.

A forensic interviewer, contracted by the Saville Center, interviewed the 5-year-old and concluded the child knows the difference between telling a lie and telling the truth and believes the child understands that it is much better to tell the truth.

Pointing to an anatomically-correct drawing of a female, the child told the interviewer Day-Day has touched her vagina with his hand and she stated “he stuck his fingers inside me and moved his hand from side-to-side … She told him to stop but he did not.”

Attempts to contact Tippett have been unsuccessful, according to court papers.

If found guilty, Tippett could face imprisonment for three to 20 years.

     

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