Published: July 17, 2008 11:50 pm      

Greenup pair accused of sex crimes

GREENUP — Readers may find some information in this story offensive.

A man and a woman from Greenup County have been accused of committing a litany of sex crimes against three children under the age of 12.

Vanessa S. Hamm, 28, of Flatwoods, and Charles L. Stapleton, 34, of South Shore, both were named in multiple-count indictments handed up recently by a Greenup County grand jury.

The charges — 63 of them in all — are more than enough to send the pair to prison for the rest of their lives if they are convicted.

Hamm was charged with 33 counts of first-degree sodomy, three counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of second-degree persistent felony offender.

Stapleton, identified as Hamm’s boyfriend in court records, was charged with 22 counts of first-degree sodomy, three counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of second-degree persistent felony offender.

Under Kentucky law, first-degree sodomy is a Class A felony when the alleged victim is younger than 12. A single count carries a prison sentence of 20 years to life.

Hamm’s and Stapleton’s alleged crimes were committed against two boys and a girl over a period from March 1, 2006, to April 16 of this year. The indictments allege that the pair engaged in “deviate sexual intercourse” with two of the children on numerous occasions through the use of “forcible compulsion.”

Hamm allegedly threatened the girl, telling her that she would die if she did not perform oral sex on her and on Stapleton, her indictment states.

Hamm also allegedly performed oral sex on one of the boys and forced him to perform oral sex on her and on Stapleton.

Hamm was charged with sexual abuse for allegedly subjecting the boys to sexual contact.

Stapleton was charged with sodomy for allegedly engaging in oral sex with the girl and with one of the boys, and sexual abuse for allegedly subjecting both boys to sexual contact.

The indictments of Hamm and Stapleton resulted from a Kentucky State Police investigation. Trooper Ben Tanner presented the cases to the grand jury.

Both defendants were in custody in the Greenup County Detention Center Thursday. Each was being held on a $150,000 cash-or-property bond.

Stapleton is scheduled to be arraigned July 31. An arraignment date for Hamm hadn’t been set as of Thursday.

A grand jury indictment is a formal accusation of a crime and does not establish guilt.

KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.