PROVO, Utah – A Utah judge has dismissed six additional child sex abuse charges against David Hamblin, a former therapist accused of involvement in ritualistic child sex abuse.
The Utah County Sheriff’s Office expressed strong disagreement with the ruling, stating they were stunned by the court’s decision.
On March 20, Utah County Judge Roger Griffin ruled to dismiss the charges due to concerns over evidence disclosure and procedural issues. The State of Utah had requested a dismissal without prejudice—leaving the possibility of re-filing charges—but Griffin instead dismissed the case with prejudice, barring future prosecution on these charges.
Judge Griffin emphasized that while allegations of sexual abuse are deeply troubling and require thorough investigation, constitutional protections ensure that every defendant has the right to a fair trial. He noted that problems related to evidence disclosure made it impossible to guarantee a just legal process.
However, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office argued that all relevant evidence had been provided to prosecutors in a timely manner. They maintained that the defense had previously acknowledged receiving all case materials, including a report of an interview with the alleged victim. Despite this, the defense later claimed that this critical report had been withheld, which the court cited as a reason for dismissal.
Officials from the sheriff’s office insisted that the report had been sent to prosecutors in September 2022, shortly after Hamblin’s arrest, and that an evidentiary hearing to review these claims was never held. They argued that such a hearing could have provided clarity and allowed the alleged victim to offer testimony.
“This lack of due process is deeply concerning,” the sheriff’s office stated, adding that dismissing charges of such severity without hearing testimony from the victim or investigators was “alarming.”
The Fourth Judicial District Court in Utah County declined to comment on the case but directed inquiries to court records.
Despite the dismissal in Utah County, Hamblin still faces multiple felony charges related to child sex abuse in Sanpete County. His next court hearing is scheduled for April 2.
The Utah Attorney General’s Office declined to comment on the sheriff’s office’s concerns, citing the ongoing case in Sanpete County. However, they stated that prosecutors handled the case ethically and appropriately based on the information available to them .
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