A Bethel jury found elementary teacher John Mark Hammons guilty of 14 counts of sexual felonies.
The Aug. 4 verdict followed a three-week trial for the 49-year-old Hammonds, who worked as a both a schoolteacher and coach at the Akiachak school, while also acting as a self-proclaimed pastor in the village of Akiachak in southwest Alaska in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
The convictions relate to two victims. The jury convicted Hammonds of the 12 counts that occurred when he was teaching in 2021. Two additional counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree relate to sexual abuse that occurred in Wasilla in November 2019 and one misdemeanor count occurred while in custody.
The 15 counts include:
— Two counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree
— One count of sexual assault in the first degree
— Eight counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree
— Two counts of sexual assault in the second degree
— One count of enticement of a minor
— One count of unlawful contact, a misdemeanor, while in custody at Goose Creek Correctional Center
The jury heard from 32 witnesses throughout the three-week trial and deliberated for two and a half hours before returning the verdict. At trial, witnesses from a variety of disciplines testified, including three child forensic interviewers, two nurse practitioners, seven teachers and/or administrators, and four Alaska State Troopers. The jury also heard from six children and their parents.
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The Alaska State Troopers investigated the case. Assistant Attorney General Bailey Woolfstead of the Office of Special Prosecutions’ Rural Prosecution Unit prosecuted the matter along with Paralegal Bethany Kaiser of the Bethel District Attorney’s Office.
After the verdict, Hammonds was remanded pursuant to statute and is being held without bail pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Jan. 19, 2024. Hammonds faces a sentencing range from 40 years and 5 days to 595 years.
When initially arrested, Hammonds was working for the Yupit School District, which has endured several other major sexual abuse cases over the past nine years.
The district agreed to settle a $2 million suit against a teacher in 2014, which included allegations of rape committed against nine female students. That teacher was never prosecuted or jailed.
That same year an Akiachak teacher alleged that the district did not protect her from rape, which occurred in an unsecured home provided to her by the district.
Then in 2018, an area teacher was sentenced for possessing child pornography.
13 Comments
Pastor. Sexual abuse. Seen that before.
Yes. The corrupted souls always seek positions of power to gain control and influence over an unsuspecting public. Not exclusive to religions.
More common than not.
Lucinda, What say you about homosexuals undulating in front of children?
Grooming for sexual exploitation by deviant homosexuals.
Well, first, drag shows only partially interest me cuz I wonder what the fuss is about. Second, how do you know the performers are homosexuals? And, more importantly, why does it matter?Obviously, it’s not your thing. Just don’t go. Problem solved.
The natives need to start doling out their own justice on these sick perverts that keep hitting up their villages and not say anything about it. Hey, maybe the pervert went hunting or fishing?
Agree
If I am not mistaken, the reason why many of these offenders get away with it is because they are not the only ones guilty. It takes a village, so to speak.
Is it Akiak or Akiachak? They are different villages.
Correction grandpa
Rape, insest and sexual exploitation has run rampant and will continue to in the villages of Alaska. It is common knowledge for someone to offer up their significant others up or child up as a form of currency. For the prosecuters and law enforcement that is supposed to be there to protect and serve they themselves should remember their oaths they took or step down from their positions. It boggles my mind to read that even after in custody this vile man was able to gain access to a minor, shame on the authorities,where is the accountability or outrage from the community.
So I guess my post was too factual or scary for the readers, i spent many years in the village and know many many village elders? Thanks Joel.
Same with mine mboll