Former Utah therapist’s child sex abuse charges dismissed in Utah County — again

CONTENT WARNING: This article contains information about sexual assault. If you or someone you know needs help, call the Rape & Sexual Assault Crisis Line at 1-(888)-421-1100.

UTAH COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — Charges against a former Utah therapist accused of “ritualistic child sexual abuse” have been dropped by a Utah County judge, and it’s not the first time.

David Lee Hamblin, 70, was charged with six felony charges related to child sexual abuse in 2022 for incidents dating back to the 1980s and 90s. On Wednesday, Judge Roger Griffin agreed to drop the felony charges against Hamblin due to concerns with the evidence. Court documents did not provide details on the evidentiary issues.

Hamblin is still facing six second-degree felony child sexual abuse charges in Sanpete County regarding alleged abuse of a young child in Spring City in 1990.

This is the second time child sexual abuse charges against Hamblin have been dropped. In 2012, Hamblin faced 18 felony charges related to child sexual abuse, but those charges were later dismissed.

Hamblin tried to get his record expunged in court in August 2022, but was arrested the following month in Utah County. Shortly after, Hamblin was charged in Sanpete County and, despite community opposition, was released on bail.

Following Hamblin’s 2022 arrest, authorities said they were investigating him for “ritualistic child sexual abuse” for incidents that allegedly took place in three counties over the course of several decades.

Sgt. Spencer Cannon, the public information officer for Utah County Sheriff’s Office at the time, previously said the term “ritualistic” in this case refers to an “organized” form of abuse that likely involved more than one perpetrator.

In 2023, Hamblin’s ex-wife Roselle Stevenson, 71, was arrested and charged with one count of sodomy on a child for an incident dating back to 1992.

While several victims across the state of Utah have reported abuse related to Stevenson, the current charge is connected to one victim. This victim reported being sexually abused for several years by Stevenson and Hamblin in their former home. The case is currently being litigated in the Provo District Court.