Desiree Ham, a 37-year-old from San Diego, CA, has become the first woman in Texas to be charged as a Sexually Violent Predator. This follows an investigation by the Comal County Sheriff’s Office into her actions dating back to 2009, when she, then 22, manipulated two teens through online relationships that led to sexual role-playing games, as reported by FOX San Antonio.
The jury found Hamm guilty of predatory behavior, based on evidence of her constant communication with victims through phone and computer. She manipulated them into a fabricated reality, similar to a role-playing game, to control and deceive them. Dr. Jason Dunham, a forensic psychologist, testified that Hamm resembled a "cult leader," due to her ability to dominate her victims' lives, as stated by News 4 San Antonio.
Hamm, the first female classified as a Sexually Violent Predator since 1999, faces strict supervision after her prison sentence. Dr. Dunham described her as having an "extreme ability to lie and manipulate vulnerable people, including children," which contributes to her high risk of reoffending. She will undergo long-term treatment and be monitored at the Texas Civil Commitment Center in Littlefield, Texas, with evaluations every two years to assess her risk of re-offense, according to FOX San Antonio and News 4 San Antonio.
