State of Wisconsin v. David L. Hamlet

Janesville, Wisconsin, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Second-Degree Sexual Assautl of a child.



David Hamlet began staying in the family's home in August of 2023, and by December of 2023,

he was assaulting the 14-year-old. The Beloit Police Department investigation – led by

Detective Amber Davies and Child Maltreatment Officer Dylann Rauch – revealed that

Hamlet had been giving drugs to the child and confirmed that he had impregnated her.

The District Attorney's Office charged Hamlet, and Assistant District Attorney Alex Goulart

prepared to try the case this summer. However, Hamlet pleaded guilty to the child sex

offense in June, on the day of his final pretrial. Today, his sentence was argued in front

of Judge Karl Hanson. The legal maximum sentence is 40 years in the prison system –

25 years in prison and 15 years extended supervision.



The child victim attended today's sentencing hearing with the support of family and

friends, Victim/Witness Coordinator Andrea Ehret, and Detective Davies and Officer

Rauch. The District Attorney's Office argued for the maximum sentence. "He [Hamlet]

feels nothing for the victim,” said Assistant District Attorney Goulart, "he takes absolutely

zero accountability. His explanation is 'oh, I don't remember, because of drugs and

alcohol.'” Goulart highlighted Hamlet's risk to the community and the egregious harm

Hamlet caused his victim, and asked Judge Karl Hanson to sentence Hamlet to the legal

maximum.



Hamlet's attorney argued for far less: five years initial prison and fifteen years extended

supervision. Hamlet's attorney noted that Hamlet has diagnosed mental health concerns

and "is a decent person when not using controlled substances.”



Judge Karl Hanson began his sentence by praising the courage of the young victim, telling

her that her ability to come forward and tell her story reminded him of the bravery he saw

in his time in the military. Judge Hanson questioned Hamlet's statement that he was "in

the wrong place at the wrong time,” telling Hamlet that after someone brought him into

their home, Hamlet "singled out a vulnerable child in that home, provided drugs to that

child, and then sexually assaulted her. That is unconscionable.” Judge Hanson ultimately

sentenced Hamlet to the maximum sentence: 25 years in prison, followed by 15 years of

extended supervision. When Hamlet is eventually released from prison, he will have to

register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.



After sentencing, the victim left with a large supportive group. Goulart thanked the Beloit

police officers and Victim-Witness professionals for their support of the victim, and added,

"we must hold offenders accountable when their actions have a lifelong impact on the

most innocent and vulnerable victims.”



"Our first hope is that a child is never victimized,” said District Attorney Jason Sanders,

"but our second hope is that if a child is victimized, that some justice can be done, and

that child can find their inner bravery with the help and support of others.” Sanders

praised Assistant District Attorney Goulart and the Beloit Police Department "for the hard

work of pushing this case towards the most justice the law would allow.”

Sanders added: "Those people sitting next to the victim at the hearing and hugging her in

the hallway – her friends and family, prosecutor Alex Goulart, Andrea Ehret from

Victim/Witness, and Detective Davies and Dylann Rauch of the Beloit Police Department

– they are the true spirit of our co

The Defendant was found guilty and was sentenced to 40 years in the prison system – the first 25 years in prison, and the next 15 years on extended supervision.