Posted on 03/17/2006 9:33:12 AM PST by grundle
http://www.wltx.com/news/news19.aspx?storyid=36158
Judge's Decision Led to Release of Sex Offender
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A judge who could have recommended a convicted sex offender to a state rehabilitation program behind bars six years ago instead said prosecutors failed to show the man would likely re-offend.
Circuit Judge Edward Cottingham's decision allowed for the eventual release of Kenneth Glenn Hinson.
Authorities are still looking for Hinson in connection with the rape of two teenage girls in an underground room behind his Hartsville home. Previous coverage.
Hinson was convicted in 1991 of raping a 12-year-old girl.
Cottingham said he didn't see probable cause that Hinson had a mental or personality abnormality that might lead him to offend again.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Tim Stec says that Hinson was spotted Wednesday night near the Darlington-Chesterfield county line, but investigators were not able to catch him. They believe he is still armed, on foot and in the area.
Authorities say the incident happened near Hinson's home on White Ridge Road in Hartsville.
It was near the home where deputies say they found an underground bunker on Tuesday. In that bunker, they say Hinson assaulted the two young girls.
"These are the kind of things, type of things, that don't happen in a county such as this, a rural county. But it just shows that these kinds of things are coming home to rural America," said Darlington County Chief Deputy Tom Gainey.
Authorities say Hinson lived very close to the teens, though their relationship is not known.
They say he broke into their home in the middle of the night, and kidnapped them.
Officials say Hinson brought the two victims to a space he created under a shed, tied them up, sexually assaulted them and then left them there.
Investigators say by the morning, the girls managed to free themselves from the duct tape, and kicked through the shed's door to escape.
Officials say they then ran toward the road, where a passerby took them to safety.
Van O'Cain, New Media Manager
Updated: 3/17/2006 7:40:38 AM
Associated Press
Hey Judge, how about you let him live in your home, with access to your daughters or grand-daughters?
I think John Douglas said it best (Former FBI Profiler): The best indicator of someones future behavior is their past behavior.
Or in other words; A tiger can't change its' stripes. But this stupid judge could not see any probable cause that a man that is attracted to young girls enough to rape them might just do it again. I'll bet he would have seen probable cause if the guy was set to babysit his grand daughter.
Doesn't this Judge read? They always offend again. Always.
I'm confused. Did the judge make this rulling recently or 15 years ago (in 91)?
FWIW, a very, very small number of people recommended for this program are actually committed to it.
Evidently the "judge" has demonstrated an inability to accurately assess his cases. He should be removed from the bench because he is imcompetent.
Time for another impeachment, like they are proposing for that moron judge in Ohio.
Too late, he's retired. His decision that is described in this article was over 15 years ago.
Wonder (not really) if this guy is a Democrat?
>>>A judge who could have recommended a convicted sex offender to a state rehabilitation program behind bars six years ago instead said prosecutors failed to show the man would likely re-offend. >>>
They must have left their crystal ball home that day and made the fatal mistake of using their own common sense.
Unfortunately, the judge in this case happened to have left his common sense at home that day himself.
The "Judge" is norally responsible for subsequent kidnappings & rapes that this scum commits.
He should also be help legally responsible as well
Upon Cottingham's next visit to a resturant a "conversation" should be started and finished in the restroom..
You mean that fact that he raped a 12 year old girl didn't tip you off? Not even a little bit?
I am hoping we can get it accomplished to have Judge Connor removed. The newspaper today said that while other judges do recommend probation for some offenders, Connor issues probation twice as much as the average for all judges in our county. So if you're a sex offender who is lucky enough to get Connor to be the judge in your case, you are pretty likely to only get probation instead of serving ANY prison time.
Oh, but it's all good, because Judge Connor has a drinking problem (2 DUI convictions, 8 arrests, and in one he possessed cocaine). He said that he has an addiction that he's learning to manage, and this Selva guy (the one he gave probation to) has an addiction that he needs to learn to manage. GRRRR!!
These judges need to be held accountable. If one of their molestors reoffends, the judge should have to serve an identical sentence as well. Might make them think twice about what they're turning loose on society.
Ummm...did the judge refuse to sentence the guy OR did he refuse to have the guy committed after his sentence was over?
Those are different things, and the timeline suggests the latter.
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