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A former Minot nursing assistant was ordered Sept. 17 to serve 15 years on two charges involving sexual abuse in a Minot long-term care facility and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material.
Amber Hattem, 35, had pleaded guilty in May to two counts of gross sexual imposition, involving sexual contact and sexual act-victim unaware, both Class A felonies, related to images and video she captured while working at a long-term care facility. She was sentenced to 20 years, to serve five years, with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, followed by 10 years of probation, on each count, and the sentences will be served consecutively. A misdemeanor indecent exposure charge, related to sexual images Hattem captured of herself while at the long-term care facility, was dismissed.
She was sentenced to an additional five years on Sept. 18 for possession of certain materials prohibited, related to child sexual abuse material, a Class C felony. She received credit for 645 days already served. Dismissed was a charge of promoting or directing an obscene sexual performance by a minor, a Class A felony.
According to the court affidavit, an investigation began after the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for suspected child sexual abuse material in August 2024. A search warrant of the home of Dalton and Amber Hattem in December 2024 found additional cell phone images and video containing illicit images of bedridden or unconscious individuals. Amber Hattem worked as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at a Minot long-term care facility between April 2024 and December 2024.
Hattem said in court records that the photographs and videos were taken for her husband. The couple was charged in North Central District Court in Minot in March 2025.
Amber Hattem must register as a sex offender, have no contact with the victims or Dalton Hattem, or with any vulnerable adult without permission of her probation officer, through September 2046.
She also was assessed $125 in court fees in each the adult and child sexual abuse cases.
Dalton Hattem was convicted by a jury and sentenced in June to serve concurrently seven of 20 years with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for two Class A felony counts of conspiracy to commit gross sexual imposition-sexual contact and sexual act-victim unaware. He was given credit for 544 days served and 10 years of supervised probation upon release, with no contact with victims or Amber Hattem. Amber Hattem had testified at her husband’s trial as a part of a plea agreement.
Dalton Hattem has appealed the verdict to the North Dakota Supreme Court.
He also is facing federal charges related to the distribution of child sexual abuse material.