The Williamsburg-James City County Courthouse
A Grove man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison after he was convicted of sexually assaulting his 7-year-old stepdaughter.
The sentence comes from four charges to which 32-year-old William Hamlett Jr. entered an Alford Plea in August. An Alford Plea is when the accused admits there is sufficient evidence for a guilty finding without admitting guilt. Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court Judge Michael McGinty suspended 20 years of the sentence, leaving Hamlett with 30 to serve.
Hamlett was arrested Dec. 18 after police received a report from Child Protective Services that Hamlett had allegedly raped his girlfriend’s daughter. The incident occurred at a Grove home where Hamlett lived with the victim, the victim’s mother and four children Hamlett had with the mother. Hamlett was not the victim’s father.
His Alford Plea covered three counts of indecent liberties with a child under 15 and one count of aggravated sexual battery against a victim under 13. Four more counts of indecent liberties were dropped as the case made its way through the system.
Prior to handing down the sentence, McGinty listened to testimony from the victim’s grandmother. The victim, who is now 8-years-old, lives with her in a nearby city. The grandmother said the victim stays away from people and doesn’t talk much.
“The part that really hurt the most was to see the sadness in her eyes,” she said. The victim was not present in the courtroom. The grandmother said she wanted the victim’s statement to be the final step in the process to bring her closure.
“Everyday she is a different person,” the grandmother said. She told McGinty that Hamlett was the only father figure the victim had known.
Williamsburg-James City County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Maureen Kufro said in her closing arguments that Hamlett assaulted the victim while she was holding her 1-year-old baby brother. She said once the assault was over, Hamlett pressed his forehead against the victim and warned her not to tell anyone.
The mother of the victim found out about the sexual assault but did not do anything. Kufro said the mother and Hamlett both told the victim “what happens in this house stays in this house.” She was convicted of felony child abuse in April and sentenced to five years in prison with four years and nine months suspended.
WYDaily is not naming the mother to protect the identity of the victim.
Kufro said Hamlett’s prognosis for therapy was poor and that rehabilitation seems unlikely. She asked McGinty to exceed the sentencing guidelines.
“We can’t give her back her innocence or trust in others,” Kufro said.
Hamlett’s attorney Brandon Waltrip took issue with elements in the psychological evaluation. He said the chances of Hamlett reoffending are very low and that analysis suggested Hamlett has sexual interests typical for a heterosexual male. Waltrip pointed to problems in the home prior to the incident that could have been responsible for some of the victim’s current troubles. He urged McGinty to follow the sentencing guidelines to promote uniformity across the state.
Hamlett made a brief statement, saying he has made mistakes. He said he could have taken the matter to trial to try to fight for his innocence, but if he lost at a trial, he would never be able to see his children again.
McGinty then handed down the sentence, saying “[the victim] is going to have to live with this for the rest of her life.”
Related Coverage:
Grove Man Arrested Following Alleged Rape of Girlfriend’s Daughter