Gov. Henry McMaster suspended Bamberg County Councilman Kerry Trent Kinard from office on Friday following a grand jury’s indictment of Kinard on a variety of sex-related charges.
The 49-year-old Bamberg man is suspended until he is formally acquitted or convicted, or voters elect a replacement.
Kinard’s attorney, Bakari Sellers, said “It doesn't change anything about the case.
“Mr. Kinard maintains his innocence, and we look forward to all the facts coming out.”
On Thursday, a grand jury indicted Kinard on the following charges:
• One count of first-degree assault and battery
• One count of second-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor
• Two counts of criminal solicitation of a minor
• One count of lewd act on a child
• Two counts of disseminating obscene material to a person under 18 years of age
Kinard has posted bond and is out of jail while he awaits trial, according to wrdw.com. As part of his release, a judge last month ordered Kinard to be placed on GPS monitoring and stay out of Bamberg County, with the exception of court hearings, for 90 days.
