Bamberg Co. politician accused of sex crimes against children suspended by governor

BAMBERG, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has issued an executive order suspending a Bamberg County councilman arrested in September on various sex crimes.

Kerry Trent Kinard, 49, is charged with Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor 1st Degree, Attempted Criminal Sexual Contact with a Minor, two counts of Criminal Solicitation of a Minor, Assault and Battery 1st Degree, and two counts of Dissemination of Obscene Material.

SLED investigated the case at the request of the Bamberg Police Department.

Kinard was booked at the Bamberg County Detention Center.

He’s a Democratic councilman, and even served as a chairman at one point.

McMaster’s office says this action came to pass because Kinard was indicted on these charges by a grand jury on Nov. 5.

That allows McMaster, by state law, to suspend an elected official indicted on crimes of “moral turpitude.”

Kinard will be suspended from office until he is convicted or acquitted.

Copyright 2020 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.