Ernest Timmons

> "I'm not telling you a lie, sir!"
>
>

> - Ernest crying like a baby in a helpless situation.
>
>

Ernest's reaction as he realises he's about to be on television

**TSGT** **Ernest Clayton Timmons** was a potential predator involved in the Ocean County, New Jersey edition of **To Catch a Predator**. He is known for his fit of sweating while being confronted on his behavior, as well as for telling an elaborate story about how someone on his airbase named Kevin set him up.

## Biography

Ernest Clayton Timmons was born on June 29, 1974, in Merced, California. Ernest attended Gustine High School and joined the United States Air Force in 1992 after graduating. He belonged to both the Tacoma Community Christian Reform Church and the Promise Keepers. Ernest was considered a "passionate advocate" for youth projects, such as the Special Olympics.

## Sting

Ernest gave false information regarding his identity, claiming to be "Kevin" and 30 years old. He was regarded as a "fast mover" since after only a short period of conversation with the decoy, he inquired about her virginity and whether she had ever had sex with her partner. Because the girl was a minor, Ernest claimed he was hesitant to pursue sexual questions. When the decoy asked for a photo, Ernest assured the decoy she would give the photo to the police. He argued that he would be terrified to have sex with a minor and then queried whether she has ever engaged in oral and anal sex. He once more voiced his concern by asking the decoy if she was "playing" with him and by asking whether a police officer would be waiting. When the decoy questioned why a cop would be in her home, Ernest explained that he was scared because he was talking to a child about having sex.

After that, he demanded her address and hometown. He said that he was concerned since he had seen sexual predators arrested for trying to meet children for sex on television. Then he asked to see a photo of her "boobies" and what their size was. The decoy stated she didn't have a camera and suggested Ernest that he could bring one. Ernest asked if he could see the decoy cover her "boobies" with her hands and lick them on camera. He voiced concern once more and questioned the decoy as to why she couldn't pretend to be eighteen. After being convinced by the decoy,  Ernest urged that she clean her genitalia so it would smell good when he performed oral sex on her. He inquired how to delete their internet chat and whether she could answer the door naked. Before ending the chat, Ernest announced he could only stay at the house for 30 to 60 minutes.

## Confrontation

The decoy Casey Mauro welcomes Ernest at the door. He enters the home but rejects all invitations for conversation and refreshments. He merely wants to go upstairs and get busy. Ernest stated he had to go right away when Casey recommended he settle down and they hang out in the living room. Casey wondered as to if he would bring her lotion. When Ernest stated he hadn't brought any with him,  Casey retorted that she believed he was going to teach her some sexual lessons. Ernest looked around the room and asked her if everything was okay. Casey replied that it was and Chris Hansen makes his appearance. Ernest is asked to take a seat by Chris. He complied and soon began to feel nervous. He gives the excuse that his friend instructed him to bring a camera to the house. When Chris asked what his friends name was, Ernest stated that his friend's name was "Kevin." After Chris enquired as what his last name was,  Ernest insisted he didn't know his last name and that they met on the base. Ernest begins to sweat profusely and declares that he is "stunned" because Chris doesn't accept his explanation. Chris responded in a humorous way, stating that he was "stunned" because he got caught. Ernest continued to sweat while asserting that he wasn't lying.

Ernest confessed that he had around a week and a half before his deployment to Iraq. In response, Chris said he decided came over to have a "quicky" with a girl who was thirteen years old. It was, according to Ernest, "a joke." He admits to having a seven-year-old child and shows Chris a photo of his wife that was taken using the camera he had brought. Chris asked why a married military man with a child had rushed nervously into the home of a thirteen-year-old girl with a camera and asked to go upstairs. In return, Ernest said he was attempting to tell him the truth and said he didn't know why he would do it. When Chris questioned Ernest if he had seen Dateline's reports about grown men seeking to have sex with children and read from his chat log where he acknowledged to doing so, Ernest replied that he hadn't. Chris answered that he will be appearing on one and identified himself. Ernest cries out, "Oh, please sir!" as the cameras emerge. He persisted in saying that he was told as a friend to come over. He declared that he would maintain his story.

## Arrest and death

When Ernest left the residence, the police took him to the ground. He set down his camera and kept sobbing. Ernest tells the cops the same explanation he told Chris when they question him. Later, after being summoned before a judge, his bail was set at $50,000.

Ernest died of of liver failure in a community medical center while under guard from Ocean County police on September 7, 2007, at the age of 33 after he intentionally stopped taking medication in order to avoid a prison term. Because he was a member of the military, he had been in police custody for six months since his arrest awaiting dishonorable discharge. His family was able to receive some military benefits as he died before he could be formally discharged. He is buried at Mountain View Memorial Park in Lakewood, Washington.

## Trivia

* Some in the TCaP fandom have theorized "Kevin from the base" to be Kevin Westerbeck, since he worked for the military in a civilian capacity.
* His "Find A Grave" page had postings disabled due to rampant vandalism.
* Most disturbingly, he referred to the decoy's breasts as "boobies", apparently using the more childlike term to better groom the decoy for a photograph of them.

## Links

* Ernest Timmons Full Clip
* Ernest Timmons' "Find A Grave" site.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21579023/ernest-clayton-timmons
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.perverted-justice.com/?otherres=joketer34
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 https://dairystatedegenerates.blogspot.com/2021/03/to-catch-predator-update-ocean-county.html