Frankfort KY. (March 28, 2017) – Attorney General Andy Beshear announced today that an Indiana man has been sentenced to one year in prison for the prohibited use of an electronic communication system to procure a minor for sex.
A Jefferson County jury recently found Dale Thomas Hammond, 61, of New Albany, guilty of the charge. In August 2015, Hammond was arrested by the Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Unit investigators after Hammond communicated with and then traveled to meet who he believed to be a minor for sex.
The work of the Cyber Crimes Unit, a Division of the Department of Criminal Investigations in the Office of the Attorney General, is part of Beshear’s core mission to keep sexual predators away from Kentucky’s families and children.
“Arresting and prosecuting those who look to exploit and abuse our children is one of the core missions of my office,” Beshear said. “I am proud of the dedicated team of investigators in my office who are working hard each and every day to shield our children from online predators.”
The Office of the Attorney General’s work to prevent child abuse in 2016 led to the arrest of more online child predators than any year in the history of the office. Over the last 14 months, the number of arrests, indictments and convictions total nearly 80.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Adrienne Henderson and Danielle Yannelli from Jefferson County handled the prosecution of the case on behalf of the Commonwealth.
Hammond must complete sex offender training before his release and will be required to register as a sex offender. Formal sentencing for Hammond is scheduled for May 31, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. in Jefferson Circuit Court.