Pensacola Man Back in Jail, Facing Multiple Child Sex Abuse Charges

By Asha Staples
Fox 10
March 31, 2017

http://www.fox10tv.com/story/35035542/pensacola-man-back-in-jail-facing-multiple-child-sex-abuse-charges

A Pensacola man is in jail again after more alleged victims have come forward with sex abuse allegations.

Charlie Hamrick, 54, was arrest Tuesday and his first court appearance was yesterday.

As a routine courtroom appearance, Hamrick was in court again today as he faces more than three dozen child sex abuse charges in Escambia County. According to police, some of the charges date back as far as the ‘90s.

“Of course it is very difficult for any victim of this type of crime to come forward. It’s a very personal, intimate type of crime but it is very useful for us to ensure that justice is done," Assistant State Attorney John Molchan said.

After a judge saw probable cause for Hamrick's most recent arrest, a bond was set $375,000.

“Mr. Hamrick is being prosecuted for several counts of lewd and lascivious behavior with young men. Also a capital sexual battery charge is pending against him," Molchan said.

According to Molchan, some of Hamrick’s alleged sexual encounters with young boys happened while he was a Sunday school teacher and youth pastor at two Northwest Florida churches, and while working close with Tate High School football players.

FOX10 News got no response after reaching out to the churches, but Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas did respond.

“Any time someone is going to allegedly abuse children it’s alarming. You know, unfortunately in today’s world these headlines are too common. Youth leaders and people who have influence on students take advantage of that and that’s disconcerting," Thomas said.

Thomas says Hamrick was never a full-time employee of the Escambia County School District, but a “volunteer supplemented football coach” for three years. He says allegations of Hamrick’s sexual misconducts didn’t surface until after he left the school district in the fall of 2015.

“You don’t know what you don’t know unless it’s been documented and it’s secret in their life," Thomas said shaking his head.

While Hamrick is behind bars, both Thomas and Escambia County authorities are hoping more of Hamrick’s alleged victims come forward to tell their story so the proper justice is served.

An arraignment hearing for Hamrick has been set for April 20th.

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