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UPDATE 09/11/2024 8:30 PM
GARDINER, Ore. - On Monday, September 9, 2024, detectives with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office were made aware of an attempt to tamper with the female victim in this case. Detectives were advised that 36-year-old Eric Cumming and his wife, 38-year-old Tabitha Cumming, both of Gardiner, were conspiring to get the juvenile victim to change her story in order to get Eric released.
“Detectives launched an investigation into the allegations and determined that Eric, who is currently lodged in the Douglas County Jail was communicating with his wife via letters. In those letters they discussed having Tabitha persuade the victim into changing her story,” Lt. Kelley Bean said.
Bean says Tabitha went as far as to contact the Douglas County District Attorney's Office and advise them that the juvenile had recanted her story and wanted to set the record straight.
DCSO Detectives spoke with Tabitha and the juvenile, determining that Tabitha and Eric had in fact taken steps toward tampering with the witness/victim.
Tabitha was taken into custody and lodged in the Douglas County Jail on a single charge of Tampering With a Witness, a class C Felony. Eric, who was already in custody on the original charges was also charged with the crime of Tampering With a Witness.
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ORIGINAL RELEASE 08/19/2024 8:00 AM
GARDINER, Ore. - A Gardiner man has been arrested and lodged in the Douglas County Jail on sex crime charges.
On Saturday, August 17, 2024, at approximately 10:00 am, deputies were dispatched to a reported disturbance in the 70000-block of Highway 101 in Gardiner. After arriving, deputies determined there were no crimes committed during the disturbance.
As deputies were preparing to leave, they learned information that a juvenile had previously reported to an adult that they had been the victim of sexual assault by 36-year-old Eric Thomas Cumming of Gardiner. Cumming is known to the victim.
Deputies began investigating and developed probable cause for the arrest of Cumming. He was taken into custody and transported to the Douglas County Jail where he was lodged on the following charges:
- Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree x10
- Sexual Abuse in the First Degree x10
Cumming remains in custody at the Douglas County Jail.
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