Savage is acquitted of witness tampering, assault charges

Dan James Savage, Jr., was acquitted of four criminal charges during a three-day trial in 19th Judicial District Court last month.

Savage, also known as D.J., was cleared of charges including partner or family-member assault, tampering with a witness, stalking and criminal mischief. 

“A few (jurors) just didn’t believe the victim’s testimony,” said Joe Cik, who prosecuted the case. “But still, people felt it needed to go to trial. It’s tough to get a jury conviction in Lincoln County.”

Cik said the case changed while Savage was incarcerated.

“It’s just that a lot of things happened between the assault charge and the tampering charge,” Cik said. “Still, we felt like the case needed to go to a jury.”

Savage, 34, originally was charged with partner-family assault, for which he was arrested. Upon being released on bond last May, Savage contacted the alleged victim 109 times during a three-day period between May 28 to 30.

Savage’s attorney, Lane K. Bennett, contended by the victim’s own admission that Savage did not ask her to lie, and, therefore, there then was no tampering of a witness. 

“I don’t think the record shows he tampered,” Bennett contended during a pre-trial conference.

During the trial a host of 12 witnesses were called to testify, including Savage. Other witnesses included Robin Shiferl, a clerk in the Justice Court, Carol Ramos, victims advocate, David Hall and officials from Frontier Communications, the cell phone company with which Savage had an account.

Repeated attempts to reach Saveage for comment on this case were unsuccessful.