SWEETWATER, Fla. – Additional court documents explain how and why a child molestation suspect ended up in South Florida while out on bond for a similar crime while living in the Vero Beach area.
Hunter Nicholas Hines, 35, of Pembroke Pines, remained locked up in jail after police say he attacked a teen at the Dolphin Mall in Sweetwater on Jan. 4.
While the 13-year-old boy was washing his hands, deputies said he was grabbed and dragged into a stall. Police say Hines forced himself on the boy and molested him.
Local 10 News looked into Hines’ criminal history and found he was out on bond for a similar case out of Indian River County.
According to court records, in November 2022, Hines met up with a 14-year-old on the Grindr app and was accused of sexual battery among other charges. He was granted a $300,000 bond, but his lawyer motioned to modify bail and his conditions of release.
Court documents say, in part: “In order to provide extra protection to the victim and the concerns for the safety of Indian River County, Mr. Hines is asking this court that he be allowed to reside in Broward County with his fiance.”
The docket says as part of his release, he could only use the internet for work purposes, could not have social media on his phone, or have unsupervised contact with anyone under 16. But he was allowed to leave Indian River County.
Less than three years later, Hines would be back in cuffs, but here in South Florida instead. A judge ordered Hines to stay away from this new victim and prosecutors indicated that more charges could be filed.
Indian River court documents didn’t say whether Hines was given an ankle monitor. That case has been updated with an order to revoke pre-trial release because of his Miami-Dade arrest.