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Written by K Bishop
Published January 4, 2023 @ 8:26 PM ET
Monroe County (December 20, 2022) – A Pike Pest Control employee was fired and subsequently charged with elder abuse and public indecency after he was accused of masturbating in a client’s home. According to reports, the man asked his elderly client if she had a place he could sit down, and when she returned a short time later, he was lying on her sofa touching his penis.
The suspect, James Cicero Hamlin, 38, arrived at the victim’s home around 10 AM to spray for pests. After completing work outside of the home, Hamlin came inside to spray. The victim told police he came out of the laundry room, saying he wasn’t feeling well, and asked for a place to lie down. The woman told him he could lie on the living room sofa. She noted Hamlin’s pants were unzipped, and a string was hanging from the zipper.
The elderly woman left Hamlin alone for a few minutes, and when she returned, he was masturbating. She said Hamlin asked her to come to check his penis to see if he was bleeding while continuing to masturbate. The victim declined and suggested Hamlin go to the hospital if he thought he was bleeding from his genitals. The woman left the room, and Hamlin left nearly ten minutes later without speaking to her.
The elderly woman was perplexed and upset by the incident. She called her daughter and reported the events later that evening. She also reported the incident to Pike Pest Control the following morning, after which Hamlin was terminated. When speaking with police, Hamlin’s manager said Hamlin told the company his penis was tangled up in a string, and the victim voluntarily helped him remove it.
Hamlin visited the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office on December 21, where he told investigators his version of events. According to the suspect, he noticed a string hanging from his pants, and when he went to pull it, he realized it was wrapped around his penis, which cut him. He said he asked the victim if there was somewhere he could sit down to take care of the problem, and she led him to the sofa. Hamlin told officers the victim asked if she caused the problem and if he needed tools to help fix it. He said he reassured the woman that it was not her fault and removed the string before leaving the house and going to his next job.
Hamlin was arrested and charged with public indecency and elder abuse. He was booked into the Monroe County Jail.
OOfficer’sNarrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On December 21, 2022 at approximately 1030 hours I, Sergeant Ortiz, was dispatched to Flowers By Helen on the square in reference to an indecent exposer.
Upon my arrival I made contact with [WITNESS #1] who stated that James Hamlin with Pike Pest Control exposed himself to her mother, [VICTIM #1]. [WITNESS #1] stated that [VICTIM #1] told her that when Hamlin came to her residence on December 20, 2022 he treated the outside of the residence and then came inside to spray and that is when he began to mast*rbate in front of [VICTIM #1].
I then made contact with [VICTIM #1] at her residence and she stated that on December 20, 2022 Hamilin came to her residence at approximately 1000 hours. After Hamil had treated the outside of the residence he came inside and began to treat the inside. [VICTIM #1] stated that Hamlin came out of the laundry room stating that he did not feel well and if there was a place for him to lay down. [VICTIM #1] stated he could lay down in the living room. [VICTIM #1] stated while he was coming out of the laundry room his pants zipper was down and a string coming from the inside of his pants.
[VICTIM #1] stated that she left him alone for approximately 5 min and when she went to check on him Hamlin was mast*rbating on her couch. [VICTIM #1] stated that Hamlin then told her to come closer and see if he was bleeding while he was continued to mast*rbate in front of her. [VICTIM #1] told Hamlin that if he thought he was bleeding from there he needed to go to the hospital. [VICTIM #1] then left the room closing the door and went and sat in the other room. [VICTIM #1] stated that approximately 10 min went by and Hamlin exited the living room and left without saying anything.
[VICTIM #1] stated she did not know what to do and called [WITNESS #1] at around 1700 hours and advised her of what had happened.
[VICTIM #1] stated this morning she called Pike Pest Control to make a complaint on Hamlin and advise the business of what had happened. [VICTIM #1] stated she spoke with [WITNESS #2] who supervised the employees and told him of the incident. [WITNESS #2] called [VICTIM #1] back and advised that Hamlin had been let go due to the incident.
I then had [VICTIM #1] fill out a witness statement form. While [VICTIM #1] was filling out the form and while she was speaking, I observed that she was visibly shaken from the incident and could not stop thinking about it.
Next, I called [WITNESS #2] who stated when they asked Hamlin about the incident, he stated that his pen*s was caught in a string and his zipper causing him discomfort. Hamlin told [WITNESS #2] that [VICTIM #1] then walked in on him while he was fixing himself and she went and willingly helped him with it. I then sent [WITNESS #2] a witness statement form to fill out.
Hamlin then made contact with me at the Monroe County SSheriff’sOffice at approximately 1525 hours. I advised Hamlin of his Miranda Rights and asked if he understood and he stated “”es”” I asked Hamlin what had happened at [VICTIM #1]’ ‘sresidence. Hamlin advised while he was treating the inside of the residence for pests, he observed a string coming from the zipper in his pants. Hamlin then attempted to remove the string from his pants causing his pen*s to be cut and caught in the zipper.
Hamlin stated he then asked [VICTIM #1] if there was somewhere he could sit down and [VICTIM #1] took him to the living room. Hamlin stated he then began to try and untangle himself from the zipper and that is when [VICTIM #1] came back into the room. Hamin stated [VICTIM #1] asked if he needed help and if she caused that and he told her no I ddon’tneed help and you did not cause this. Hamlin then stated for approximately 10 min when [VICTIM #1] entered the room again asking if he needed some tools to help himself and he advised he did not. Hamlin stated once he got himself untangled, he left the residence and went to his next job site.
At this time, I placed Hamlin under arrest for public indecency and elderly abuse securing his hands behind his back, double locked the cuffs, and checked for fit. I then escorted Hamlin to the Monroe County Jail.
[End of Narrative]