Utah County Sheriff's Office issues rare rebuke of dismissed child sex abuse case

AMERICAN FORK -- The Utah County Sheriff's Office has expressed strong disapproval of a judge's decision to dismiss charges against David Hamblin, who was accused of sexually abusing a child, labeling the lack of testimony from the victim or investigators as "abhorrent." This rare public rebuke highlights the implications of such a dismissal, particularly in a case involving severe allegations of "ritualistic sex abuse."

Fourth District Judge Roger Griffin dismissed the charges in February, but at that time he was still deliberating whether to do so with or without prejudice. Recently, he confirmed the dismissal with prejudice, which prevents the charges from being refiled. Hamblin still faces six separate counts of sexual abuse of a child in another case in Sanpete County, but the dismissal of the Provo case raises significant concerns for the sheriff's office.

Hamblin’s legal troubles date back to 2012 when he was charged with 18 first-degree felonies related to child sexual abuse, though that case was dismissed without prejudice in 2014. His arrest in 2022 followed allegations from a woman claiming he forced her and two other children to perform sexual acts, which he would then critique. Hamblin, a former licensed therapist whose license was revoked due to these allegations, has been accused of continuing to conduct therapy sessions under misleading pretenses.

The dismissal motion, led by special assistant attorney general Nathan Evershed, cited evidentiary concerns and discovery issues as primary reasons for the decision. Defense attorneys argued that it took over two years for exculpatory evidence to be shared. However, the sheriff's office contested these claims, stating that they had provided all necessary evidence on time and that a proper evidentiary hearing was never held to address these disputes.

The sheriff's office raised alarms over the ruling, asserting that it was unjust for the court to reach such a conclusion without the opportunity for the victim or investigators to present their side of the case. They condemned the dismissal as a significant oversight, emphasizing that the allegations against Hamblin warrant thorough examination and accountability, regardless of procedural missteps alleged by the defense.