Tami, Kevin Sawyer ‘Plead The Fifth’ At Debtors’ Exam

Tami and Kevin Sawyer, whose real estate dealings remain the focus of civil lawsuits and an FBI investigation, repeatedly “pleaded the Fifth” during a debtors’ exam Monday at the Deschutes County Courthouse, claiming any answers could incriminate them in other legal proceedings.

Monday’s court proceedings resulted from the $804,000 settlement of a lawsuit brought against one of the Sawyers’ firms, Starboard LLC, last March. Dr. David Redwine and his wife had loaned that amount to the Sawyers’ firm last year.

During Monday’s debtors’ exam, the Redwines’ attorney, Martin Hansen, were asked to show their company’s bank records, to show any money or properties that could be used to pay all or part of the money owed to the Redwines.

But the Sawyers repeatedly invoked their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, arguing in a document referred to as “Exhibit A” that any answers could be used against them in a related, pending criminal investigation.

Undeterred, Hansen said he will now pursue contempt of court proceedings, alleging the couple over-used the Fifth Amendment plea to avoid providing any information that could help to pay the agreed-upon settlement.