Middletown man pleads guilty to charges related to 6-year-old’s death

Today’s plea hearing was scheduled for Monday, but it was continued by the judge after questions were raised regarding a requirement after Hamilton’s release from prison. The sticking point seemed to be a new law requiring him to register as a violent offender as part of the plea.

Hamilton’s attorney Jeremy Evans said after Monday’s hearing, there is a provision in the statute that if it can be demonstrated Hamilton was not a “principal offender” it may override the violent offender designation and registration requirements.

The plea hearing came a week after Brittany Gosney, Hamilton’s girlfriend, pleaded to murder and two counts of felony child endangering for killing Hutchinson and abusing his sibling.

Gosney, 29, and Hamilton were indicted in March on a combined 31-count indictment for the slaying of Hutchinson on Feb. 26 in rural Preble County and the disposal of his body days later in the river near Lawrenceburg, Ind.

Gosney faces a mandatory maximum of life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years and a maximum of 36 months each for the child endangering charges. Her sentencing is set for Sept. 13.