A Cowlitz County jury has found 42-year-old Christopher Shannon Hamilton of Vancouver guilty of first-degree child molestation and indecent liberties for crimes that occurred a decade ago in Woodland.

The conviction came Monday after a five-day trial in Cowlitz County Superior Court. Hamilton was accused of sexually abusing a child in 2016 and 2017 while living in Woodland. Court records indicate that the victim, now 15 years old, disclosed the assaults in 2023.

According to documents summarized by prosecutors, a relative first alerted the Woodland Police Department, but the family had since moved out of state. During a forensic interview, the victim recounted multiple incidents of abuse. Prosecutors said the jury determined Hamilton had sexual contact with a child under the age of 12, and that the victim was incapable of consent due to being physically helpless.

Following the verdict, Judge Michael Evans ordered Hamilton into custody. He remains held at the Cowlitz County Jail and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 17.

This case underscores how delayed reporting and cross-jurisdictional movements can complicate investigations into historical child abuse, especially when victims come forward years after the alleged offenses.

Reporting sourced from The Columbian.