Confession False, Says Defendant’s Father

The father of a Port Hueneme man who is on trial for murder told a Superior Court jury Wednesday that his son confessed to police because he was tired, hungry and sleepy--not because he is guilty.

After arresting Timothy Chrestman in the shotgun death of 24-year-old Andy Lee Anderson of Simi Valley on March 7, sheriff’s officials promised they would feed the suspect and let him sleep before interrogating him, Harold Chrestman said.

Timothy Chrestman, then 19, had told his father that someone else shot Anderson and his dog at Middle Lions Campground above Ojai three days earlier. One of the alleged assailants, described as a male Latino named Angel or Angelo, then purportedly kidnaped him.

Chrestman had gone three days without food, water and rest by the time he escaped his kidnaper and called home, his father said. Harold Chrestman said the deputies followed him to the beach area to arrest his son.

“I said, ‘If you want the truth, you need to let him get some sleep to let his head clear out,’ ” the father testified.

Two investigators promised they would provide Chrestman with everything he needed before questioning him, the father said. But they took him to the police station and interrogated the suspect. The father, who called his son honest, said the defendant confessed only to stop the interrogation.

Harold Chrestman was one of a series of family members and character witnesses who testified on behalf of the defendant.

The trial continues today in Ventura County Superior Court.