A Beverly man sentenced to four years in prison Wednesday for engaging in sexual acts with a 12-year-old girl blamed his actions on mental and alcohol problems stemming from his military experience in Iraq.
Before the start of his 8 a.m. sentencing hearing, Brandon Hall, 23, of 912 Park St., fought back tears as he hugged each of the 12 family members and friends who appeared to show their support at the hearing.
Hall faced as much as 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty May 2 to first-degree felony rape of the girl he met last year at the Waterford Fair. Hall did not force the girl into the acts, but because of the child’s age she was unable to legally consent, police said.
The child’s parents found the girl in bed with Hall at his residence. Hall’s attorney, Rolf Baumgartel, said Hall was highly intoxicated and has no recollection of the incident.
Hall apologized for the incident and said he voluntarily sought alcohol and mental health counseling while he was in the military. When he tested positive for alcohol at one of the meetings, he was given a “less-than-honorable discharge,” he said.
“It is quite convenient for the military,” Baumgartel said, noting the discharge leaves the government free from paying for treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder or alcohol dependency problems.
Baumgartel said Hall faced heavy combat and had several friends killed while serving. He said Hall turned to drinking to cope with the trauma.
Hall said he wanted to contact the family of the victim to apologize. Neither the victim nor anyone in her family was present for the hearing.
“I do feel remorse, your honor,” Hall told Washington County Common Pleas Court Judge Susan Boyer. “I wish the family an apology. Since day one I wanted to say I was sorry, but I wasn’t allowed to contact them.”
Assistant Washington County Prosecutor Kevin Rings recommended a five-year sentence, but Boyer opted for a four-year prison term, noting the former Marine had a minimal criminal record, consisting of a drunk driving offense and a resisting arrest charge.
Boyer also labeled Hall a Tier III sex offender, meaning the man will have a lifetime reporting requirement with the local sheriff’s office upon his release from prison.
Rings said Hall had not been back from his tour in Iraq for very long before the incident occurred.
