VIRGINIA BEACH — A contentious court hearing between two Virginia Beach Catholic school families whose relationship soured over allegations of child sexual abuse ended Monday with the dismissal of some felony charges filed against one family, while upholding others.
Monday's hearing in Virginia Beach General District Court came after Marin Jakawich filed criminal complaints against former friends Tim and Meredith Hatchell. The two families met several years ago through their children, who all attended St. John the Apostle Catholic School in Virginia Beach.
Even the nature of the relationship between the two families was at odds Monday. While the Hatchells told Judge Sandra Menago they were so close that they routinely saw each other four to five days a week for the past four years and showed photos of them on multiple vacations together, Jakawich called the Hatchells “acquaintances.”
However, both parties agreed that the relationship they had had came to an abrupt end in early May, when the Hatchells’ daughter told them that she had been abused by Jakawich’s husband, Vincent, a few years earlier. The Hatchells immediately contacted the police and also contacted Marin Jakawich.
Less than 24 hours later, Vincent Jakawich, a Navy pilot, was found dead in his car in Currituck County, North Carolina. According to a department spokesman, Vincent Jakawich's death was ruled a suicide.
The next morning, Meredith Hatchell stood outside St. John's school, handing out flyers to parents dropping off their children. The flyer claimed that Vincent Jakawich was a “pedophile” who had molested “at least” two female students, and urged parents with daughters who had spent time in Jakawich's home to question them.
The flyer also contained a link to a previous lawsuit involving Vincent Jakawich. In 2021, he was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 13. He later settled with the court for a lesser charge of assault.
A similar document was given to the Jakawichs' neighbors, and a few days later the Hatchells gave interviews to two local television stations about the allegations and expressed frustration that school officials were not doing more to protect students.
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Marin Jakawich filed her criminal complaint against the Hatchells hours after the flyers were distributed. She also alleged that Meredith Hatchell had invaded her home and become disruptive. She later accused the couple of violating the terms of a protective order she had obtained by posting about her family and the allegations on social media.
Meredith Hatchell was charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct. Meredith and Tim Hatchell were both charged with computer harassment and violating a protective order.
“They put both my daughters and me in danger,” Jakawich told the judge Monday as she became emotional. “I had to leave my home. We are living out of suitcases.”
People she had never met before posted horrible things on social media, she said, including one who suggested she and her daughters should “accompany” her husband in death.
“My daughters and I want peace. That’s all we ever wanted,” she said. “My daughters and I had nothing to do with this. This had to do with my husband.”
The Hatchells testified that they put up the flyers to warn other families about what had happened and to help those who might have been affected. Meredith Hatchell said she did not know about the earlier allegations involving Vincent Jakawich until her daughter came forward.
“Because I believed there could be other victims, I wanted to raise awareness,” she said. “Other (alleged) victims have come forward since then.”
Marin Jakawich told the judge that the charges against her husband in the first case were dismissed by Child Protective Services. He also passed a lie detector test and was cleared by the Navy, she said.
Tim Hatchell testified that he and his wife sent their daughter to a therapist a few years ago because she was complaining of migraines and missing a lot of school. She first told her therapist about the allegations on May 8, and informed her parents later that same day, adding that she had not come forward earlier because she was afraid no one would believe her, he said.
Tim Hatchell told Marin Jakawich that he and his wife were angry with her for not telling them about the previous case, and for putting their daughter and others in danger. However, Marin Jakawich said she had “no obligation” to tell them, and that she had followed all court orders imposed on her husband, including not being allowed to associate with unrelated children under 18 while his previous case was pending.
On Monday, Menago dismissed the trespassing and disorderly conduct charges against Meredith Hatchell, saying she did not believe the evidence met the requirements of the law. She did, however, find her guilty on the computer charge.
Menago found Tim Hatchell guilty of the computer charge and violating the protective order. Because neither has a criminal record, the judge granted defense attorney James Broccoletti's request to hold the convictions until Dec. 30. If no other violations are filed during that time, the convictions will be vacated, she said.
Jane Harper, [email protected]
