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Kenneth Hinson, In Court

CASE UPDATE 4/22
If you recall this story, and this one- then you know who Kenneth Hinson is.

For those of you who don't, he's the South Carolina man charged with kidnapping and raping two teenage girls in an underground room behind his home.

What made this story even worse is that had a judge done his job, this all could have been prevented.

From Crime Scene Blog- In 1991, Kenneth Glenn Hinson sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl. He was tried and convicted and was in jail until 2000, when he was released. At the time of his release, it was recommended that Hinson be placed in the South Carolina Sexually Violent Predator program. This request was denied by Judge Edward Cottingham.


It appears that Hinson is due in court on the new charges, and guess who the judge is that shall be presiding over the case?

The same judge.

A South Carolina man charged with kidnapping and raping two teenage girls in an underground room behind his home is to appear today before a judge who decided six years ago against sending the convicted sex offender to a secure rehabilitation program.

Circuit Judge Edward Cottingham’s decision allowed for the eventual release of Kenneth Glenn Hinson, 48, who was arrested after a four-day manhunt in March. The girls were sexually assaulted and left bound inside the room concealed under a shed, but managed to free themselves and get to safety, authorities said.

State Attorney General Henry McMaster’s office previously criticized Cottingham, but would not talk about the judge Wednesday because they are handling Hinson’s prosecution.

McMaster’s spokesman Trey Walker said in March that had Cottingham not dismissed the case, “there is a chance that this individual would still be in the ... program and a chance that those girls would not have been victimized.” Source

Should we cross our fingers and hope the judge does better this time around?

UPDATE 4/22
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