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Man guilty of child abuse

Superior Court News

By Richelle Bailey | The McDowell News

Published: February 8, 2010

An Old Fort man accused of assaulting his teenage son will spend time on probation.

Joseph Steven Hamrick, 38, of Obe Moore Drive recently pleaded guilty in McDowell County Superior Court to misdemeanor child abuse.

Judge Mark E. Powell gave Hamrick a 150-day suspended sentence and placed him on unsupervised probation for 18 months. He must pay court costs and restitution of $600 for a court-appointed attorney.

Linda Hamrick reported to the McDowell County Department of Social Services one day in November 2008 that her husband had hit their 13-year-old son, according to authorities.

They added that Linda Hamrick said she and the teen returned home to find Steve drinking. The couple argued, and Steve began fussing at and striking the boy, officers stated.

Steve pushed the teen down and started choking him, yelling at him and spitting on him, said deputies.

The following defendants also appeared in McDowell County Superior Court on Jan. 19:

-- Thomas William Dalton, 22, of U.S. 70 West in Old Fort pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of more than ½ ounce and less than 1 ½ ounces of marijuana. The judge handed Dalton two consecutive 120-day suspended sentences and placed him on supervised probation for 12 months. He must pay court costs, a $300 fine and restitution of $300 for a state lab fee.

-- Jason Adrian Fain, 33, of Hendersonville pleaded guilty to speeding 83 in a 70 mph zone and driving while license revoked. He was given a 120-day suspended sentence and was placed on supervised probation for 24 months. Fain was ordered to pay a $200 fine and court costs.

-- Amber Lee Neiman, 29, of Paradise Circle in Marion pleaded guilty to shoplifting concealment of goods. She was given a 15-day suspended sentence and was placed on supervised probation for 24 months. Neiman must pay court costs.

-- Zachary Aaron Roach, 45, of Apache Path in Marion pleaded guilty to conversion by bailee. Judge Powell handed Roach a 120-day suspended sentence and placed him on supervised probation for 24 months. He was ordered to pay restitution of $1,800 to the victim in the case and reimbursement of $675 for a court-appointed attorney.

-- Danny Ray Pinkerton, 24, of Caraway Drive in Marion pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and driving while license revoked. He was given a 12-month plus a 120-day suspended sentence and was placed on supervised probation for 24 months. Pinkerton was ordered to spend 10 days in jail and pay two court costs and a $500 fine.

-- Brandon Charles Burden, 23, of Chapel Hill Church Loop in Marion pleaded guilty to two counts each of felony breaking and entering and felony larceny and one count each of injury to real property and interfering with a utility meter. He was sentenced to eight to 10 months in prison and was ordered to pay restitution of $200 to the victim in the cases.