Dalton Jake Hattem, 33, Minot, filed a demand for a speedy trial in North Central District Court on June 3, a day before he waived his preliminary hearing in the case and pleaded not guilty to two Class A felonies of conspiracy to commit sexual imposition-sexual contact-victim unaware and sexual act-victim unaware.

Judge Todd Cresap granted the speedy trial request on June 17, with the trial scheduled for July 21-July 25 at the Ward County Courthouse in Minot. Cresap also granted a motion severing Dalton Hattem’s case from co-defendant, and wife, Amber Lyn Hattem, 33, Minot.

Amber Hattem is charged with two Class A felony counts of gross sexual imposition-sexual act-victim unaware and one Class A misdemeanor count of indecent exposure for allegedly sexually abusing and exploiting vulnerable adult residents at a Minot care facility where she was employed, and sharing videos of her actions with Dalton Hattem.

According to court documents, the charges against the Hattems stemmed from a prior investigation for which the couple was charged in December 2024 with promoting or directing an obscene sexual performance by a minor and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), both Class C felonies.

Amber Hattem

A search of the Hattems devices located images and videos of Amber Hattem engaged in sexual acts with two adult patients who were either unaware or unable to comprehend the acts due to severe cognitive impairments, including dementia. According to the affidavit of probable cause, investigators also located messages where Dalton Hattem responded to one of the videos telling Amber Hattem, “You need to move to a daycare center.”

Amber Hattem is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday for a preliminary hearing in the care facility case, while a pretrial conference in the CSAM case was canceled on June 4. No new date has been scheduled based on court records.

The CSAM charges against Dalton Hattem have been dismissed due to his federal indictment by a grand jury on a charge of distribution of child pornography. No hearings have been scheduled at this time.