There are some crimes that startle a community. One recent court case makes it clear how easy it is for a trusted adult to take advantage of children—and how pressing the need is for neighbors to stay alert.
John E. Hamilton, 39, of Centreville, will of convictions on multiple counts in connection with attacks of three children under his care in 1997. His crimes were all the more surprising because he was once an integral part of the community, a popular coach with the Fort Hunt Youth Association Little League.
Hamilton wound end up fleeing the country and led investigators on a 14-month manhunt that ended after his case aired several times on the television show “America’s Most Wanted.” The attacks were overwhelming for the victims, several of whom. Such incidents also tear at the fabric of a community because the victims, children and youth, are the most defenseless among us.
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“It’s shocking to a lot of people over how often it happens and who the perpetrators are,” said Deborah Forkas, director of Fairfax County’s Department of Family Services’ Children, Youth and Families Division. “Many people say that ‘this doesn’t happen in our neighborhood. But in reality, it happens in all neighborhoods.”
And, it doesn’t just happen to kids who play in youth sports or attend organized social activities. It cuts across all segments of a community, said Ramona Simmons, program manager for the county’s Office of Child Protective Services.
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“It happens in our affluent neighborhoods and with struggling families,” Simmons said. “We get cases from all over the county.”
In general, the number of child sexual abuse incidents reported to the county has remained fairly stable over the past three years, accounting for about 11 percent of all cases of abuse reported to the county, records show.
But that doesn’t take the sting out of such attacks when they surface in the news. Probably most shocking is that nearly all cases, 95 percent by some estimates, involve a person who the child victim trusts – like a father, stepfather, sibling or authority figure outside the family.
Brandon Zerante’s mother always had an uncomfortable feeling about Hamilton, who spent much more time with the kids than other coaches did. She forbade Zerante, who was about 11 years old at the time, from hanging out with Hamilton.
“I tried to avoid him as much as possible per my mom’s request,” Zerante said. “She was just very suspicious of him.”
Most offenders are males, though there are instances of women being sexual abusers, Simmons said. In very few cases, the offenders are strangers.
If the perpetrator is outside the family, “generally, it’s someone well know by family and by the victim,” Forkas said. “It is terribly traumatic for the family when they know the person and trusted that person with their child.”
By all accounts, Hamilton was a trusted person in the community. The Hamiltons were well-liked and John’s parents owned Wick’s Sport Lettering. Hamilton was almost like a family member to one person.
When the abuse is by a family member or an acquaintance, the child-victim is terrified and reluctant to report it. Many cases of sexual abuse go unreported, but when children do divulge such information, it is usually always to a person they trust. Families can fight back by making sure they have open lines of communication with their kids.
“Some children feel they have done something to bring this on, although that’s never true,” Forkas said. “It’s critical for children to know they are safe and that they will receive the support and care they need.”
According to Stop It Now! an organization that advocates for prevention of child abuse, there are certain signs parents can look for in children and adolescents. These signs can also be triggered by other factors, such as a divorce or death in the family. They are:
- Unexplained nightmares or sleep problems
- A sudden change in eating habits
- The child suddenly has access to money or new toys without a reason
- Sudden mood swings, or the child seems distracted/distant
- The child dreams of sexual images, or writes and plays them
Stop It Now! has a more comprehensive list available on their website.
Plus the county can help, Simmons said. CPS has a hotline (703-324-7400) and encourages phone calls, even though some people may not want to call, Simmons said.
“If you are suspicious of anyone, you should call the hotline and let us make a determination,” Simmons said. “We don’t like to be seen as bad guys. We’re a help line and want to be seen as a resource for community.”
Dan Telvock and Mary Stachyra contributed to this report.
