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personpersonMichael DawsonMichael DawsonTown of Palm Beach Police Department sergeant and former detective.← All People
Witness· Town of Palm Beach Police Department

Michael Dawson

Town of Palm Beach Police Department sergeant and former detective.

73 lines·6 proceedings·4 mentions

About

On Day 5, Sergeant Michael Dawson testified about executing a 2005 search of Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach residence. He described the warrant, the areas assigned to him, and items the search team sought and recovered. The government used his account to identify recovered materials and support exhibit admission.

Dawson said message pads appeared familiar, but he could not confirm their identity with complete certainty because he had not remained in contact with them. During cross-examination, he initially did not recall a burglary investigation; after reviewing a document, he said it refreshed his recollection.

The parties later agreed that additional Dawson cross-examination testimony would be read by stipulation instead of recalling him. The stipulation stated that a cardboard box shown in a government exhibit was recovered from a second-floor guest-bedroom closet during the 2005 search and that its two visible items remained unopened in their original boxes. The court admitted the stipulation as Defendant's Trial Exhibit B.

Trial Record (6)

FederalFederal Criminal TrialNov 29, 2021 – Dec 29, 2021Called by prosecution

On Day 5, Sergeant Michael Dawson described his role in a 2005 search of Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach residence and identified recovered materials. Later, the parties stipulated to additional cross-examination testimony about a cardboard box recovered in the search.

Day 5

DirectGregory ParkinsonMaurene ComeyMentioned

Summary

Parkinson described the 2005 search of 358 El Brillo Way and authenticated photographs and a redacted walk-through video admitted by the Court.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectMichael DawsonMaurene Comey5highlights32lines spoken

Summary

Sergeant Dawson described the 2005 search of Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach residence, and the Court admitted several related exhibits; he could not fully confirm the identity of later-shown message pads.

Highlights (5)

testimony highlightSergeant Dawson described assisting with the warranted search of Jeffrey Epstein's residence, including the house, guest quarters, and cabana.Open in transcript →
Quoteβ€œI do recall being surprised that the computer -- there was a desktop computer that didn't have the computer towers hooked up to them, it was only the monitor and the keyboard. Also, there was numerous amount of photos throughout the house, the cabana, and we found some in the closets, too, of nude females.”— Sergeant DawsonDescribes Sergeant Dawson's observations during the search.Open in transcript →
evidence eventThe Court admitted Government Exhibit 294 after Sergeant Dawson identified it as the Twin Torpedos he located during the search.Open in transcript →
testimony highlightSergeant Dawson said the message pads appeared to be those found during the search but that he could not confirm their identity 100 percent.Open in transcript →
Show all 5 highlights
Quoteβ€œThey appear to be. I can't confirm 100 percent. I haven't been in contact with them.”— Sergeant DawsonQualifies Sergeant Dawson's ability to identify the message-pad exhibits.Open in transcript →
CrossMichael DawsonChristian R. Everdell2highlights41lines spoken

Summary

Judge Nathan allowed questioning about Juan Alessi's prior burglary statement, and Dawson confirmed the 2003 investigation after refreshing his recollection.

Highlights (2)

rulingAfter a sidebar, Judge Nathan allowed defense counsel to question Dawson about Juan Alessi's prior statement despite the government's collateral-matter objection.Open in transcript →
testimony highlightAfter reviewing a document to refresh his recollection, Dawson confirmed his involvement in the 2003 burglary investigation and agreed that Juan Alessi described entering Jeffrey Epstein's residence on two occasions and taking money.Open in transcript →

Day 6

ProceduralStipulated Testimony and Redacted Exhibit Admissions1highlightMentioned

Summary

The court admitted a stipulation concerning Sergeant Michael Dawson's remaining testimony and admitted redacted versions of previously sealed government exhibits before the government called Kate.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (1)

admissionThe court admitted Defendant's Trial Exhibit B, a stipulation setting out Sergeant Michael Dawson's remaining cross-examination testimony concerning a cardboard box recovered from Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach residence and the unopened items inside it.Open in transcript →