NEWS
$295 million verdict returned in child sexual abuse case
A Montague County civil jury has returned a $295 million verdict in favor of Hailey Dickerson, now 20, who was sexually abused as a child by Bridgeport resident Max Hahn IV while living on his ranch on Bugscuffle Road outside Bowie.
The verdict is one of the largest in of its kind ever awarded in the United States and believed to be the second largest single-plaintiff sexual abuse verdict ever awarded in the Unite States.
On Oct. 31 the jury, after hearing evidence in a week-long trial, unanimously found Hahn committed assault, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault and injury to a child against Dickerson when she was between 8 and 10 years of age.
At the time, Hahn was dating Hailey’s mother, who lived on Hahn’s ranch with her four children.
Dickerson disclosed the abuse to her mother and later to a sexual assault nurse examiner and a trained forensic interviewer at a child advocacy center. Hahn denied the allegations, and his 2018 criminal trial ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury.
Hahn was later re-indicted and pleaded no contest to the charge of injury to a child, receiving a probated sentence.
Dickerson’s attorney, Brian Butcher of the Noteboom Law Firm in Fort Worth, said the evidence of guilt was overwhelming.
“The details Hailey recounted as a tiny and terrified child remained consistent across time and independent evaluations,” Butcher said.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8558 hosted ceremonies for Memorial Day on Monday in Nocona. A rifle team presented a salute and there was a cannon demonstration.
The 2026 swim season is ready to open on June 1 at the City of Bowie pool and the summer fun continues through Aug. 1.
Free Splash day is 1 to 6 p.m. on June 1.
Pool admission is $3. Hours are 1 to 6 p.m., Monday-Friday and 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
A pool pass is $60 for a city resident and $70 for a non-resident. A family pool pass is $115 for up to three people and $5 for each additional member.
Water aerobics begins June 8, Monday-Thursday 6 to 7 p.m. Cost is $2.
Swim lessons will be two sessions in July: July 6-10 and July 13-17, 10:30 to 11 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Cost is $30 per person ages three and up. Call the pool office at 872-1068 to register.
Ice chests are allowed but no glass containers. Floaties are allowed, but not in the deep end. No alcohol allowed. The city pool is located at 1601 E. Wise Street.
Summer recreation
The free Summer recreation program is open to kids kindergarten through age 15 is 8:30 a.m. to noon on June 8-July 3.
Permission slips must be filled out the first day. There will be many activities throughout the month like softball, dodgeball, kickball, flag football, soccer, tennis, basketball, relay races, circle games, arts and crafts, music and swimming. The community center gym also will be used. Youngsters should not come just for swimming.
Children should wear tennis shoes only. Drop children at the pavilion behind the pool at 8:30 a.m. and pick them up at noon each day.
Once a child arrives he/she is not allowed to go to the store or home without prior permission. A child should bring something in which to keep money or personal items. There is a concession stand with drinks and snacks to purchase. Come cool off at the pool.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Montague County Commissioners met Tuesday for a brief post-holiday meeting.
The court had changed the date due to the Memorial Day holiday on May 25. During public comments, County Judge Kevin Benton said the county has gone through yet another Memorial Day where the county military memorial has still not been repaired.
“I can tell you I will do all I can to not let another Memorial Day pass without it,” said Benton.
The county veterans’ marker, that features names submitted for local veterans of all the nation’s wars, was damaged in March 2025.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
Top photo – Shattered panels in March 2025. (Bowie News photos)
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