Palmer jury convicts Robert Hawes on four felony sex abuse counts

A Palmer jury convicted Robert Hawes, 72, of three counts of sexual abuse of a minor and one count of attempted first-degree sexual abuse Thursday. He awaits sentencing on all four convictions. The jury returned its verdicts after about two hours of deliberation.

The counts break down as two counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree, one count in the second degree and one count of attempted first-degree sexual abuse, according to the Alaska Department of Law. The convictions stem from conduct on June 4, 2021, involving a 4-year-old child. Evidence at trial established that Hawes committed multiple acts of sexual abuse against the child in his home, the department said.

The trial ran a week and a half before Palmer Superior Court Judge Tom Jamgochian. The defense called Dr. Bradley McAuliff, an expert in child suggestibility, forensic interviewing and children's memory, who offered opinions challenging the reliability of the child's disclosures. Jurors convicted on all four counts after hearing that testimony.

Assistant District Attorney Melissa Wininger-Howard prosecuted the case, with help from paralegal Suzette Marey. The Department of Law announced in February 2024 that Wininger-Howard stepped down as Palmer district attorney to focus on sexual assault and sexual abuse prosecutions. Trina M. Sears took the post.

Such cases move through Palmer against a statewide backdrop the Alaska Department of Public Safety described in its 2025 dashboard: "In 2023, the most recent year for which we have both Alaska and National data, the rate of reported and substantiated child sexual maltreatment was 8.7 per 10,000 children (ages 0 to 17) in Alaska, compared to 6.1 per 10,000 children in the U.S."

The Alaska State Troopers Crimes Against Children Unit investigated the case. Hawes is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 25, 2026.