A St. Johns County man, charged with kidnapping and other crimes following a wild chase and crash involving a patrol vehicle, has a decades-long history of criminal conduct. WESH 2 News has been reviewing that history as 60-year-old Darnell Hairston prepares for trial, and the possibility of conviction and a long prison sentence. Hairston appeared dazed as he faced Judge Dawn Nichols for his first appearance on new charges Sunday in Flagler County. Nichols said, “The kidnapping charge and the robbery charge are both crimes punishable by life in prison.”She then ordered Hairston to be held without bond. On Dec. 31, deputies say Hairston ran during this traffic stop in Flagler County. Deputies tackled him, but a 15-year-old boy with him jumped behind the wheel and sped away.Following a chase nearly to the Putnam County line, Hairston’s pickup crashed into a patrol vehicle. No one was seriously hurt, including an 11-year-old boy found tied up on the back floor of the pickup. Sheriff Rick Staly said a key witness noticed the juveniles with Hairston, knew that he was a registered sex offender, and called law enforcement. Staly added, “The 11-year-old had information or was a witness to a sex offense involving Hairston that was being investigated by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.”Staly believes Hairston kidnapped the boy to silence him. According to the arrest warrant, the boy victim was lured to a campsite. He says Hairston “threatened to kill him by knife or gun,” “hog tied him with an extension cord,” and “covered his mouth with tape.” He also told deputies Hairston made him drink an alcoholic beverage called a “Fireball.”Staly added, “Hairston could spend the rest of his life in prison, which is exactly where he needs to be. Because if he gets out again, he’s going to hurt somebody else.” Staly points to Hairston’s criminal history, more than 30 cases dating back to 1987. Among the most serious was Hairston’s arrest in July 1998 and eventual conviction for attempted lewd and lascivious assault on a child. He was sentenced to one year sex offender community control, and placed on the State’s list of Florida Department of Law Enforcement registered sex offenders. In that case, Hairston was originally charged with “sexual battery on a child under 16” against a 13-year-old girl. In 1999, Hairston was arrested and later convicted (in 2004) of three counts of false imprisonment. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, but was released after five years in 2009. In that case, he kidnapped a woman and her two kids using an “electronic stun gun to shock” her, and threaten her 4- and 18-month-old children. Hairston will be arraigned on Jan. 27. WESH 2 is not identifying the 15-year-old because of his age. He’s being held by the Department of Juvenile Justice. The 11-year-old is providing information to detectives.WESH 2 Investigates The WESH 2 Investigates team is comprised of Greg Fox and Justin Schecker. Greg Fox has worked in broadcast journalism for nearly 44 years, 39 of which have been at WESH 2 News in Orlando. He has covered politics the entire time and investigative news for 25 of those years. Contact him at gfox@wesh.comJustin Schecker joined the WESH 2 Investigates team in September 2024. He’s spent the past six years of his broadcast journalism career reporting in Florida, with a focus on politics, criminal justice and education. Contact him at jschecker@hearst.com
A St. Johns County man, charged with kidnapping and other crimes following a wild chase and crash involving a patrol vehicle, has a decades-long history of criminal conduct.
WESH 2 News has been reviewing that history as 60-year-old Darnell Hairston prepares for trial, and the possibility of conviction and a long prison sentence.
Hairston appeared dazed as he faced Judge Dawn Nichols for his first appearance on new charges Sunday in Flagler County.
Nichols said, “The kidnapping charge and the robbery charge are both crimes punishable by life in prison.”
She then ordered Hairston to be held without bond.
On Dec. 31, deputies say Hairston ran during this traffic stop in Flagler County. Deputies tackled him, but a 15-year-old boy with him jumped behind the wheel and sped away.
Following a chase nearly to the Putnam County line, Hairston’s pickup crashed into a patrol vehicle. No one was seriously hurt, including an 11-year-old boy found tied up on the back floor of the pickup.
Sheriff Rick Staly said a key witness noticed the juveniles with Hairston, knew that he was a registered sex offender, and called law enforcement.
Staly added, “The 11-year-old had information or was a witness to a sex offense involving Hairston that was being investigated by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.”
Staly believes Hairston kidnapped the boy to silence him.
According to the arrest warrant, the boy victim was lured to a campsite. He says Hairston “threatened to kill him by knife or gun,” “hog tied him with an extension cord,” and “covered his mouth with tape.”
He also told deputies Hairston made him drink an alcoholic beverage called a “Fireball.”
Staly added, “Hairston could spend the rest of his life in prison, which is exactly where he needs to be. Because if he gets out again, he’s going to hurt somebody else.”
Staly points to Hairston’s criminal history, more than 30 cases dating back to 1987.
Among the most serious was Hairston’s arrest in July 1998 and eventual conviction for attempted lewd and lascivious assault on a child. He was sentenced to one year sex offender community control, and placed on the State’s list of Florida Department of Law Enforcement registered sex offenders.
In that case, Hairston was originally charged with “sexual battery on a child under 16” against a 13-year-old girl.
In 1999, Hairston was arrested and later convicted (in 2004) of three counts of false imprisonment. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, but was released after five years in 2009.
In that case, he kidnapped a woman and her two kids using an “electronic stun gun to shock” her, and threaten her 4- and 18-month-old children.
Hairston will be arraigned on Jan. 27.
WESH 2 is not identifying the 15-year-old because of his age. He’s being held by the Department of Juvenile Justice. The 11-year-old is providing information to detectives.
WESH 2 Investigates
The WESH 2 Investigates team is comprised of Greg Fox and Justin Schecker.
Greg Fox has worked in broadcast journalism for nearly 44 years, 39 of which have been at WESH 2 News in Orlando. He has covered politics the entire time and investigative news for 25 of those years. Contact him at gfox@wesh.com
Justin Schecker joined the WESH 2 Investigates team in September 2024. He’s spent the past six years of his broadcast journalism career reporting in Florida, with a focus on politics, criminal justice and education. Contact him at jschecker@hearst.com