SYRACUSE – A Syracuse man faces child molesting charges after police and prosecutors say he fondled and attempted to have sex with two girls during several occasions over nearly two years. Daniel Lee Hamby, 40, of 103 N. Pecan St., Syracuse, is charged with one Class A and two Class C felony child molesting counts after the girls were found earlier this year by their mother, crying about the alleged molestings. Hamby is being held in Kosciusko County Jail in lieu of a $20,000 bond. According to Hamby’s probable-cause affidavit filed early today, the mother of the girls (12- and 13-years-old) told detectives with the Syracuse Police Department that she had come into their room to find them crying. After pressing, the girls admitted that they had been molested by Hamby, the affidavit said. During an interview with police, the 13-year-old girl said that, in 2009, she was watching a movie at Hamby’s home when she fell asleep. She awoke to find Hamby’s hand under her shirt and bra, fondling her, the affidavit said. The girl told detectives she confronted Hamby about the fondling, but he denied the incident, the affidavit said. The girl also said her 12-year-old sister had refused to go to Hamby’s home, prompting presumptions that the girl had suffered through similar interactions with Hamby. Those were reportedly confirmed when they began talking, when the mother walked in to find them crying, according to the affidavit. The 12-year-old girl told investigators that Hamby had twice molested her, according to the affidavit. She said that during a road trip to Texas, Hamby disrobed and undressed her, then fondled her and tried to have sex with her, the affidavit said. She said the incident played out again in January at Hamby’s home when he allegedly came into her bedroom and molested her.
