Doppler 9&10 Weather

© 2009 by Heritage Broadcasting

Cadillac  Change 'My Weather Picture'
11/20, 12:37:01 PM
Search the News Archive
Feeds




Site Guide
 
 
 
Local News Headlines

Antrim County Man Found Guilty of Kidnapping and Raping Step-Daughter
Posted: 10/29/2009


A jury convicted an Antrim County man of kidnapping his own step daughter and raping her over the course of two years.

This comes about five years after John Hammond was convicted of attempting to sexually assault the same victim and her sister.

Hammond got back in contact with the young girl in March of 2007 when he and the girl's mother kidnapped her from a foster home and eventually ended up hiding her at their home in Mancelona.

That's where the Antrim County Prosecutor, Charles Koop, says Hammond gained the girl's trust and convinced her not to leave.

"The defendant knew she was vulnerable and exploited that," he says.

He says they installed security cameras at the house and a trap door in the closet in case authorities came knocking on their door looking for the girl.

The girl testified in court that their relationship became sexual when she was 14 years-old.

"There is no consent," Koop says. "There is no force used, but Mr. Hammond psychologically convinced her that he was in love with her and he was going to run away with her and marry her."

The young girl's mother -- Hammond's wife -- denies the sexual relationship ever took place. She's serving prison time for her role in kidnapping the child from the foster home.

During the trial, the defense questioned whether the girl was telling the truth.

""There was no physical or medical evidence that sexual activity occurred," says Jason Elmore, Hammond's Defense Attorney. "The court was never even presented with evidence that an examination took place."

But other evidence presented by the prosecution suggested otherwise. There were hundreds of e-mails between the girl and Hammond that detailed the sexual encounters.

Elmore also questioned whether the e-mails were legit. He claims the girl had access to both accounts.

Either way, the jury disagreed and found Hammond guilty on all counts.

9&10's Ryan Raiche and Photojournalist Jeremy Erickson have more on the case.
© 2009 by Heritage Broadcasting