He needs help & I am shcocked that KGW is putting so much enegry into this particular panhandler....Our society has so many other problems & serious crimes to deal with. Maybe we should focus on getting the drugs; gang, homeless & mental illness problem under control....instead of focusing on one man and attacking him for the poor judgemnt of those that CHOOSE to give him money...They had options to ignore him or just say the dont have any money. Just because he is a panhandler doesnt mean he doesnt deserve respect....Shame on you KGW!!!

This fellow was working Irvington and the Llyod district back in 2001. Same story…

OH this guy has been around for sure. When I read this article, I was shocked. This man duped my friend out of money with the same story back in 2001 or 2002. My friend came home feeling weird about giving the guy the money; said the guy was going to mail him the money. Wow, same story, completely all the way down to the truck, the max, and the cab. KGW targeting this guy? No way. This guy knows what he's doing; no doubt. He's successful at it and if he's been doing it since 2001 that is reported, then he's doing well financially. If he makes 4 good hits a day - that's $100.00 a day. - My guess is that he is making a solid decision to do this, not because he's a homeless, sad, mentally ill person, but because it's a great scam.

This man, David Wilson, lived in our neighborhood in Welches, for a few years with his wife, and two small children. They snuck out one night, without telling, and left the house trashed (think house was bought assuming loan, that fell through off course). I think he was into drugs most if not all the time they were here, and I found out he had written "bad" checks all over the Mountain Community the whole time he lived here. Eventually he's wife left him and moved in with her family in Gresham (I believe)with their kids, and he moved in with his sister Donna (Wilson) in Vancouver,WA
I remember seeing him locally driving in his sister's white car a few times after they split up.
He liked to play hot-shot, and used to go to the gym/pool at The Resort at The Mountain on a regular basis.
He usually looked well kept. He said he worked putting down floors, but was home a lot.
He actually conned a friend of ours for $25.00 with a sob-story about getting money for a taxi home.
He has not lived in Welches since 1998-99.
He is just a pathetic excuse for a human being, and I bet he is still not taking care of his family.

I can't believe the time going into this. I bet there are actually some real stories happening in this city. If lying is a crime then half the city should be locked up, oops more like 90% especially the media & politicians. These people are only victims of themselves. Think about it, wouldn't any normal human, call a friend or relative for a ride, who would go up to a stranger and ask for money? Only the con-artists, druggies, & skidrow bums. They realize later that they were duped and have to blame the duper instead of taking personal repsonsibility. If it isn't this guy it will be another one, unless of course we try thinking with the brain we all have and say NO. Come on practice with me NOOOOO.

To David or whatever your name is: Don't worry about the $20 you owe me,it was worth it to learn a lesson. What you really need, I can't give you, namely self respect, and dignity. Too bad you have made suspicious those of us that might have been willing to help someone who really needs it. You appear to be young and healthy, and wasting those gifts. I pity you.

I got scammed by this man on tuesday the 24th of july. I gave this man thirty dollars. I just laugh the incident off, but it is sad that this guy would do this type of thing.

I was amazed to see this story. Just 2 weeks ago the same scam down to the tee. Even took my phone number to return the money the next day. I even offered him change for max as he would need to break $20.00 and be left off short of Welches. I didn't seem to want that. I thought it suspicious that he said he thought his story sounded methodical and that he had recently moved here, at that point I thought and may have even said you look familiar. Almost asking for my 20 back. And just this last Saturday Night he entered an establishment I was at and went to play video poker. I went back and asked him about the police report getting mailed to him and he said he would pay me back. He looked me in the eye and said I must be mistaken. I looked him in the eye as to say you liar. He came out of the gambling area and looked for me, my friends said he must have not seen me, but then a few minutes later he came out and cashed out for $15 and left, I must have made him uncomfortable. It was him. I hate liars. Yeah the gig is up. And to the next person wanting cash or a smoke they will get nothing. It may be Jesus Christ testing me, but David was the last straw. And to you blogger who weigh in with KGW and waste of time and your a smart NO person, then why put your own energy into blogging an opinion. You obviously don't have trust to start with. Or Empathy to help another person out who's trucks been stolen and hardship BS that he was shoveling. But I know my intent. A misdemeanor on all victims of this creep. He deserves his picture plastered everywhere in the Metro area. He is a Gambler. Show his face and name as he has my name and phone number, and the chance to fess up last Saturday and pay be back. I've lost my faith in mankind as he is far from the first, but I hope the last. The defenders sound like Prison loving women and let them get taken for a ride.

I was shocked when I read this article. While on our way to have a few drinks after work, myself with a group of co-workers were approached by him on a cold winter night a few years back. We fell for it, gave him 20.00 and a business card with a phone number and an address to mail the money back. Needless to say...
I'm glad he's been caught. This was a good lesson learned. Unfortunately, I'll probably never help anyone out, because I won't believe them.

Just saw this guy in North Portland this morning. Up to the same thing no doubt. I confronted him after he walked away from some man and told him I knew who he was and hoped he wasn't asking for money. Claims he was asking for directions. I doubt that is true because he kept walking like he was guilty of something. Thanks for bringing this story to everyone's attention.

I say he needs help AND punishment.

Please beware of a sociopath in fla. He to will take all you have and leave you in debt. There are at least 20 woman barnett has scammed. If it seems to good to be true it usually is