Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Oregon State Court of Appeals Friday ruled that a prominent Bend real estate agent can stay out of jail during her trial.

Tami Sawyer, the wife of a former Bend police captain, is accused of defrauding investors of more than $1 million.

Ethan Lindsey reports.

The Court of Appeals granted Tami Sawyer a stay on her contempt of court charge, keeping her out of jail.

That charge came when a Bend judge ruled last week that Tami Sawyer must report to jail for withholding financial documents in a lawsuit filed by former investors.

But Sawyer's lawyer successfully argued that turning over that information would have been a violation of Sawyer's fifth-amendment right not to incriminate herself.

The U.S. Attorney's office has notified Sawyer that she is under investigation for investment fraud and money laundering.

The Bend Bulletin has since reported that Sawyer herself has filed a lawsuit against her former investors. David Redwine, a doctor and investor, is alleged to have improperly prescribed medicines to Sawyer while having a consensual sexual relationship with her.