A church volunteer who had inappropriate relationships with young boys he met through graphic online ads was sentenced to 10 years in prison and lifelong sex offender registration for nine felonies, including lewd acts with a minor.
Brandon Lee Hamm, 37, of San Francisco, was originally charged with 59 felonies but accepted the negotiated plea on fewer charges in December because trial was "not a good idea when he admitted some of the behavior and there is such strong evidence," said defense attorney Ryan McHugh.
Prosecutors called the settlement good especially because none of the victims have to testify in a trial.
Hamm pleaded no contest in December to possessing child pornography, three counts of meeting with a child for the purpose of a lewd act, three counts of oral copulation with a child under 16 and two counts of sodomy with a child. McHugh unsuccessfully sought time served coupled with strict supervision and therapy and, after sentencing, said Hamm knows he needs help.
"He needs professional treatment and wants eventually to help others with sexual compulsion and addiction," McHugh said. "He's deeply apologetic to his victims and understands that it's him that got himself into this situation and no one else."
Hamm, a former volunteer with the Peninsula Metropolitan Community Church in San Mateo, has since been suspended. He was arrested by South San Francisco police in June after an officer posing as a young boy responded to his online posting seeking "horny skater boys." Over several weeks, the two reportedly exchanged emails including graphic photographs from Hamm and a detective who met him at a prearranged spot reported him having a backpack full of sex toys, lubricant and child pornography.
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He was prepared to post bail when investigators located another alleged victim who was 14 when he responded to a 2009 Craigslist ad posted by Hamm. In that case, Hamm allegedly responded to the boy's advertisement and investigators have several emails between them detailing the conduct. The email also reportedly included references to former Penn State assistant coach and convicted sex offender Jerry Sandusky.
He was also charged in the case of a 15-year-old boy who allegedly met Hamm in October 2010 and continued a relationship with him through his June 22 arrest.
He has been in custody in lieu of $500,000 bail and earned credit of 540 days against his prison term.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
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