Suspended Bamberg County councilman Kerry “Trent” Kinard — who is accused of multiple child sex crimes — was arrested again for lying while trying to purchase a firearm in Columbia, South Carolina, according to U.S. Attorney for South Carolina Peter M. McCoy Jr.
Kinard, who posted bond in October, was recently arrested and charged with one federal count of making material false statements in connection to the attempted acquisition of a firearm, according to the news release from McCoy’s office.
The 49-year-old Bamberg, South Carolina man attempted to purchase a 9mm pistol from Sportsman’s Warehouse in Columbia, South Carolina on Dec. 3, according to the federal complaint in his case.
While trying to buy the gun, Kinard made two false claims, according to the complaint.
“Kinard falsely claimed he was not under felony indictment and Kinard claimed he was not subject to a protective order,” the news release said. “The complaint alleges that both false statements were material in that if he had answered truthfully, the sale would have been unlawful and therefore denied.”
Kinard faces 10 years in federal prison for the recent charge. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 17.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Kinard was still in custody.
The federal case against Kinard is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
Child Sex Crime Charges
On September 25, 2020, Kinard was charged with first-degree assault and battery, first degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor, criminal solicitation of a minor (two counts) and dissemination of obscene material (two counts).
In September, a judge initially denied Kinard’s bond and said he presented an “unreasonable danger to the community.”
Kinard is being represented by well-known CNN commentator and former state representative Bakari Sellers, who previously argued in court that Kinard was not a danger to himself or others after he completed a mental health evaluation.
In late October, a judge set Kinard’s bond at $75,000, under the condition he will be banned from Bamberg County for 90 days, wear an ankle monitor, and have no contact with his alleged victims.
On October 27, a family court judge “entered a protective order restraining Kinard from threatening or using physical force against the petitioner,” after the judge found that Kinard “used or threatened to use physical force expected to cause bodily injury.”
Kinard posted bond and was released from jail on October 28.
In November, he was indicted on all charges but one — first degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. In addition, he was indicted on one count of lewd act on a child.
Following his indictment, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster suspended Kinard from his duties as county councilman.
Kinard is a former S.C. Highway Patrol (SCHP) trooper who was first elected to his seat in 2012. He lost his reelection bid in the 2020 Democratic primary to challenger Phil Myers, however.
According to an award nomination, Kinard was very active in the Bamberg community. He was the PTO President of an elementary school, a youth football and basketball coach, and worked at the University of South Carolina as a sports information director.
Probable cause affidavits accompanying the indictments against Kinard detailed graphic child sex crimes dating back to 2008 – as well as crimes that allegedly took place as recently as September.
In the affidavit, police accuse Kinard of:
- displaying and presenting pornography to a juvenile male between 2008-2019, multiple times a year
- talking to a juvenile male for the purpose of sex between 2017-2018
- displaying and presenting porn to a juvenile female while at his residence in September 2020
- attempting vaginal intercourse with a girl who was between 14-16 years old between the years of 2016 and 2017
- talking to a juvenile female for the purpose of sex in September 2020
- touching the private parts of a juvenile female in September 2020
All crimes allegedly occurred in Bamberg county.
And more charges could be coming.
Stay tuned….
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