Former Wife of Psychologist Charged in Child Sexual Abuse Case Arrested in Utah

A Utah County Sheriff's Office cruiser sits parked at the public safety complex in Spanish Fork, Utah, on June 27, 2022. Allan Stein/The Epoch Times

Utah law enforcement have announced the arrest of a second suspect from an ongoing investigation involving alleged child sexual abuse dating back almost 30 years.

On Aug. 9, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office arrested Roselle “Rosie” Anderson Stevenson, 70, of Provo, charging her with sodomy of a child, a first-degree felony in Utah.

The incident allegedly occurred in Spring City, Utah, “in or around” 1994. The alleged victim was a girl under age 13 at the time.

Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Cannon said the case is “directly related” to charges filed against former Utah psychologist David Hamblin in September 2022.

“The case is part of an ongoing investigation of sexual abuse of children that occurred in Utah, Juab, and Sanpete counties in the 1980s and 1990s,” Sgt. Cannon said in a press release.

A judge ordered Ms. Stevenson held without bail.

Sgt. Cannon said Mr. Hamblin and Ms. Stevenson, his ex-wife, became suspects following an investigation launched in April 2021 and a press release on May 31, 2022, asking for victims and witnesses to step forward with information.

Many Potential Victims

More than 150 witnesses, including several victims, contacted the Sheriff’s Office offering testimony related to multiple incidents of sexual abuse involving children.

“They were not on our radar,” Sgt. Cannon said. The investigation “ultimately led us to put out the press release last year.”

“We collected enough information leading us to believe there were other victims out there.”

Mr. Hamblin, 68, pleaded not guilty to six counts of aggravated child sex abuse at his arraignment in a district court in Sanpete County on Oct. 17, 2022.

He faces seven other child sexual abuse-related charges from a separate case following his arrest in September 2022.

Sgt. Cannon said Mr. Hamblin faces child sex abuse allegations from an adult male who was under 13 when the offenses occurred.

The allegations from the female victim, now 42, implicate Ms. Stevenson as an accomplice in the ongoing child sexual abuse.

“We were aware of allegations against her,” Sgt. Cannon said. “When dealing with incidents that happened so many years ago, you have to be careful how you do the investigation.

“One of the things you hope for is physical evidence to support the allegation. After 30 years, it’s going to be challenging to get that physical evidence.

“You have to be able to corroborate what they say. That typically comes from other witnesses or victims.”

Years of Alleged Abuse

According to the probable cause affidavit, the alleged sexual abuse against the woman began when she was six years old.

The document graphically describes how the abuse continued until her early teens. Mr. Hamblin and Ms. Anderson were husband and wife when the alleged incidents occurred.

Sgt. Cannon said the case is about child sex trafficking and sexual abuse and is not about “satanic” ritual abuse rumors circulating among the public.

Through their investigation, detectives learned that Mr. Hamblin faced charges of sexually abusing a patient as a psychologist in Provo in 2012.

Mr. Hamblin allegedly gave religious blessings during multiple sessions with the victim. However, the county attorney would not prosecute the case.

The state eventually revoked Mr. Hamblin’s license to practice psychology in Utah.