A sex offender from Connecticut faces serious allegations involving the use of multiple social media accounts to engage with minors, reportedly persuading a juvenile to provide explicit photographs. This development follows the announcement by officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut, revealing that a federal grand jury in Hartford has issued a four-count indictment against Donald S. Hammalian, Jr., aged 50, last residing in Newtown. The indictment, returned on April 10, accuses Hammalian of several charges, including the receipt of child pornography, coercion and enticement of a minor, transfer of obscene material to a minor, and committing a felony offense involving a minor as a registered sex offender.
Given Hammalian’s previous criminal record, he faces a potential sentence ranging from a minimum of 35 years to life imprisonment if convicted on all charges. He appeared in federal court in Hartford, where he pleaded not guilty. Hammalian’s detention has been ongoing since November 16, 2023, due to a violation of supervised release conditions.
Federal authorities highlight Hammalian’s history, noting his 2010 sentence in the Middle District of Florida to four years in prison and 20 years of supervised release for possession of child pornography. Post-release, his supervision was transferred to Vermont in 2015. In June 2018, he admitted to violating supervised release by once again possessing child pornography, resulting in a six-year prison sentence and an additional 20 years of supervised release. A federal judge in Vermont, in May 2020, adjusted his sentence to time served, leading to his release during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The case escalated when the U.S. Probation Office conducted a search of Hammalian’s residence on November 13, 2023, discovering five unauthorized Internet-capable devices, including smartphones and tablets, two of which contained child sex abuse material. The investigation revealed that Hammalian was managing approximately a dozen social media accounts, amassing over 100,000 followers. Authorities accuse him of utilizing these platforms to engage with minors, at times masquerading as a 16-year-old boy.
Federal officials allege that Hammalian acquired child pornography between July 2022 and November 2023. They further assert that between July 2022 and February 2023, Hammalian coerced a minor into sending explicit images and transferred obscene material to a minor, all while he was a registered sex offender.