Child Rapist Who Set Off 9-Day Manhunt Around New Hope Sentenced

NEW HOPE, PA — A man who triggered a widespread manhunt throughout Solebury Township and New Hope in 2018 has been sentenced to serve up to 20 years in state prison after he admitted to sexually abusing two children.

David Allen Hamilton, 48, of Lower Southampton pleaded guilty this week to counts of rape of a child, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and related counts stemming from the repeated abuse of the children over a few years, the District Attorney in Bucks County said.

According to information from the Bucks County District Attorney's office, Hamilton began abusing his victims when they were 9 years old. The victims are now teenagers.

His prison sentence of 10 to 20 years will be followed by 10 years of probation.

Hamilton has been in jail since late September 2018, when he was captured in Delaware County by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force. His arrest followed a nine-day manhunt that began in New Hope on Sept. 19.

When Hamilton encountered police officers in New Hope Borough, he resisted arrest and fled into the woods. Hamilton later fled in a stolen car from a Solebury Township residence where he was hiding in the basement. Authorities searched for him throughout New Hope and Solebury, and at one point residents were asked to shelter in place.

In addition to the sexual abuse charges, Hamilton pleaded guilty to crimes stemming from the manhunt, including flight to avoid apprehension and conspiracy to commit theft.

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