Opinion ID: 3065125
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Family Background and Social History

Text: For most of his childhood, Hamilton lived with his father, Bob, his mother, Jackie, and his younger sisters, Carolyn and Vicki. The family moved eleven times over a fourteen-year period due to Bob’s service in the U.S. Air Force. Bob began drinking heavily when Hamilton was only six months old. As his drinking worsened, Bob became an increasingly “mean and vicious” man. He physically abused Jackie throughout their marriage. He also attempted to control her and the children at all times. He killed any pets to which the children grew attached. He also frequently terrorized the children by forcing them to watch as he battered and degraded their mother, often threatening to kill her. If the children attempted to flee, Bob would drag them back by their limbs or hair. At times, he and Jackie wielded butcher knives at one another while the children watched. They both regularly beat Hamilton using either a paddle, switch, belt, or closed fists, but otherwise ignored him. Hamilton’s parents engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior as well. Both parents walked around the home naked, fondling each other and making lewd comments in front of their children. On at least two occasions, Bob ritualistically lined up Hamilton and his sisters and made them watch as he forced Jackie to copulate him orally. Bob also sexually abused Carolyn for approximately four years. The abuse, which began when Carolyn was only ten years old, happened two to three times per week and included sexual intercourse and oral copulation. All of this occurred with the full knowledge of Hamilton’s mother. Rather than protecting Carolyn from the abuse, she at times guarded the door to prevent Hamilton and Vicki from disturbing Bob and Carolyn in the bedroom. Jackie was also frequently present in the bed with her husband and daughter. On several occasions, Jackie pinned Carolyn to the 13626 HAMILTON v. AYERS bed and covered her mouth so that Hamilton and Vicki would not hear her crying. Other times, Jackie participated in a “three-way deal” with her husband and Carolyn; Jackie would engage in mutual foreplay and intercourse with Bob before he penetrated Carolyn. Jackie also bought contraceptive jelly for her. Hamilton was aware of his father’s sexual abuse and of his mother’s acquiescence in it. He tried to defend his sister, but his father beat him and threatened to kill him. The sexual abuse extended beyond Hamilton’s immediate family. Bob’s father had sexually abused both of Bob’s sisters, and had tried to molest Carolyn. Two of Bob’s brothers, Marvin and Don, sexually abused their daughters as well. Unbeknownst to Hamilton at the time, Marvin also sexually abused Carolyn. That abuse began after Bob’s abuse was discovered, and continued sporadically for seven years until Carolyn was twenty-one. Carolyn told Marvin and her aunt Karen about her father’s abuse in March 1967, when she was fourteen and Hamilton was fifteen. Marvin and Karen in turn reported the abuse to the police. Bob was arrested immediately, and Jackie was arrested three days later. Hamilton and his siblings were then taken into protective custody. In a dependency petition filed in the Kern County Juvenile Court the following day (one of the documents in defense counsel’s possession at the time of trial),14 a probation officer described Hamilton’s home as “an unfit place for him by reason of neglect, cruelty, or depravity” and “detrimental to said minor’s moral upbringing in that said minor was present in the family home when incestuous acts occurred between said minor’s sister, Carolyn Hamilton, and her father; further, said minor’s mother, who had knowledge of the above mentioned incestuous activity, did nothing to 14 As already discussed, most of the Kern County Juvenile Court records pertaining to Hamilton’s removal from his parents’ home and his subsequent placement in foster care were in counsel’s possession at the time of trial, but he never reviewed them. HAMILTON v. AYERS 13627 inhibit these acts.” A ten-page report filed by another probation officer approximately two weeks later contains additional detail about the sexual abuse and family history. The report also includes statements by Hamilton, Carolyn, and Jackie. The Kern County Juvenile Court adopted the report’s recommendation and declared Hamilton a dependent of the court and placed him temporarily in shelter care. Approximately a month after his arrest, Bob pled guilty to the charge of “willfully, unlawfully, feloniously, knowingly and incestuously hav[ing] sexual intercourse with [his daughter] Carolyn Marie Hamilton, of the age of fourteen years old.” After several psychiatric evaluations, Bob was adjudged a mentally disordered sex offender and committed to Atascadero State Hospital. He was released less than a year later and sentenced to five years’ probation. He was also required to register as a sex offender and to avoid any contact with his wife and children. Jackie was charged with a misdemeanor violation of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She also underwent psychiatric evaluation. One examiner noted that Jackie demonstrated “no great remorse” for her role in the abuse. The court ultimately determined that Jackie was not a mentally disordered sex offender. She was sentenced to thirty days’ imprisonment and three years’ probation. She was later sentenced to another year in prison for violating her condition of probation that she not see her children without court permission. Hamilton spent the next few years moving from one foster home to another. In May 1967, shortly after his parents’ arrests, he was placed with his uncle Marvin, with whom he had a “friendly relationship.” This relationship ended after a few months, however, when Carolyn moved in and Hamilton witnessed his uncle molesting her. Marvin was convicted of grand theft shortly thereafter, and Hamilton and his sister returned to shelter care. Hamilton was then placed with the 13628 HAMILTON v. AYERS Rogers, with whom he had difficulty adjusting. His placement was terminated after a few months for unspecified reasons. In January 1968, at the age of sixteen, Hamilton was placed in the foster home of Ernest and Nellie Underwood. In his declaration, the Underwoods’ son, Bill, stated that Hamilton “had two sides to his personality. One side was a quiet, helpful, shy, obedient, and introverted child. The other was an irritable and agitated individual who did things on impulse. Most of these dark periods came after [Hamilton] had either personal or telephone contact with family members.” Bill also noted that Hamilton “was a loner who had no close friends and few if any acquaintances.” In December 1968, Hamilton was sent to juvenile hall on two separate occasions for using the Underwoods’ truck and for attending his high school prom, both without their permission. On January 10, 1969, the Kern County Juvenile Court adjudged Hamilton a ward of the court. Hamilton remained in juvenile hall until February 7, 1969, when he was placed in his third foster home. The home was run by Ruby and Oliver Carter, who were known for physical punishment. According to their nephew, James Beasely, Hamilton was beaten by Ruby with a belt. Hamilton requested that his case worker remove him from their home. His placement with the Carters was terminated after only four months. Hamilton returned to his mother’s home in June 1969. As he had complied with the terms of his probation, Hamilton’s wardship was dismissed on December 19, 1969, shortly after he married Christine Grealish. On April 23, 1970, their son was born. Hamilton’s union with Christine was shortlived, however; they separated after a year and divorced in July 1973. During their marriage, Hamilton had a difficult time retaining a job and committed a number of relatively minor crimes. In April 1974, Hamilton married Gwen, whom he had been dating since his divorce. Between 1975 and 1980, he and Gwen had four children together. His employment and legal troubles continued during their marriage. HAMILTON v. AYERS 13629