Washington Courts

Years ago, Spencer Hampton was in trouble. He pled guilty to a crime, a business financial crime, and went to federal prison. He spent seven months at Leavenworth Camp at Leavenworth in Kansas. When he was released on probation, he was obligated to perform 3,000 of community service. He began working at Morning Star Boys Ranch in 1984. He continues to work at the ranch today.

Mr. Hampton is about 70. He has two adult children, spent four years in the Air Force and has an honorable discharge, the trouble he got into was related to his work in a mortgage brokerage effort in the Omaha area.

At Morning Star, he worked on maintenance and groundskeeping. As time passed and as he became more acquainted with the work of Morning Star, he found his calling, he enjoyed the work and goals of the ranch. He trained, learned what had to be done to help the boys and keep records and protect the boys from themselves when they were having difficulty. He worked with Doyle Gillum, was trained by Reese Hall, was supervised by Lyle O’Neal and Father Joe Weitensteiner, and others.

He became and still is a Shift Supervisor – he is with the boys all the time and supervises and keeps records of the work of the staff workers who are in constant contact with the boys.

He testified to his knowledge of Doyle Gillum, Father Joe and others at the ranch. Questions were asked as to whether he had any knowledge of sexually inappropriate contact, words, etc. The answers were always a clear calm “no.” He was asked whether he ever saw or heard of Father Joe striking a boy,  “no,” striking Kenny Putnam, “no,” hacking a boy, “no.”

He remembered Kenny Putnam. He described Kenny as an assaultive, vulgar, disruptive, “particularly angry young man.” He said Kenny liked being with the horses; that he could express himself around the horses.

He spent a great deal of time with Kenny. Kenny would act out and had to be kept from hurting himself, others and property. He talked about the progress of restraint and the reasons for it. The progress of discipline or restraint consisted of kneeling, time outs, chores, and if necessary, when the boy was out of control, actual physical restraint.

This physical restraint is more in the nature of a person being behind the boy and embracing him, having him lean forward, or sit down and waiting as he held the boy for the boy to calm down and come back into his self-control.

He spoke of many difficulties Kenny Putnam had adjusting to the ranch, being with other boys.

He spoke of his constant efforts with Kenny, his care for Kenny and the work at the ranch.

He was forthright, content in his work and his life at the ranch. I had the sense that Spencer Hampton found redemption and a calling at the ranch. It was obvious that he had experienced grace and that he was doing what he could to pass that grace onto the boys he worked with at the ranch.