Father Punches Convicted Sex Offender In Court, Fans Raise $6,000 For "Hero"

More than 200 people have raised almost $7,000 in a single day for a man who police said attacked a convicted sex offender in court. 

Donald Courtney Biggs was being sentenced in U.S. District Court in Medford after admitting earlier this year to taking a 14-year-old girl on a church trip to Southern California with the intent to film her exiting the shower. Authorities previously said an investigation revealed he had hidden camera recordings involving dozens of victims.

The Mail Tribune, which was covering the hearing, said police Lt. Justin Ivens told reporters outside the courthouse that Biggs was transported to a local hospital to be checked for injuries after being punched once in the face.

The assailant, 45-year-old Kevin Patrick Smith, was arrested on misdemeanor charges of obstructing governmental or judicial administration, fourth-degree assault and disorderly conduct. Although the attack occurred in federal court, the person will be charged in state court, Ivens said.

The attack came as Biggs’ defense attorney was telling the judge his client regretted his actions.

Before that, victims who packed the courtroom had been giving impact statements. Biggs pleaded guilty in February to one felony count of transporting with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

As part of a plea deal, nine other transportation and child pornography charges were dropped.

Biggs faces up to nearly 16 years in prison. Defense attorney Terry Kolkey had been arguing for a mandatory minimum 10-year sentence when the attack occurred.

Aside from his most recent conviction, the former youth pastor is also accused of secretly recording other young women and girls showering, using the bathroom and changing clothes between at least March 2013 and September 2014.

Judge Anne Aiken ruled Biggs be considered a "repeat and dangerous sex offender" for filming the victims.

Biggs has been held in the Jackson County Jail since early 2015, after a burglary at Mtn. church in Medford led investigators to a collection of hidden camera recordings.

Kevin Sonoff, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Portland, did not reply to an e-mail seeking comment.

Less than 24 hours after Smith was arrested for punching the former youth pastor, supporters launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for him. Smith is reportedly the father of two of the victims.

The fundraising campaign has raised $6,755 and counting as of Friday morning.