Flagler County man sentenced to 30 years for kidnapping, torturing boy
Darnell Hairston was sentenced to 30 years in state prison Wednesday after being found guilty of kidnapping and torturing an 11-year-old boy for three days.
Hairston, 61, is a registered sex offender. Prosecutors asked the judge to sentence him to life in prison, arguing he remains too dangerous to be released.
“He’s extremely violent and continues to be,” the prosecutor said. “The facts in this case are extreme.”
Investigators said the registered sex offender, along with a 15-year-old boy, lured the 11-year-old to a campsite, where they hog-tied him, beat him, and threatened to kill him over the course of several days.
Prosecutors presented photos of the boy’s injuries, including marks on his neck they said were consistent with strangulation, as well as bruising on his lower back.
The boy was not in court for the sentencing, but his mother testified about the impact of the attack on her son and their family.
“I want [name redacted]’s voice and his experience to matter,” she said. “I want the court to understand that this was not an accident. It has affected the children and an entire family.”
Investigators said the boy could have been killed if deputies had not stopped the vehicle when they did.
The state also said Hairston was trying to silence the boy because he had information about an unrelated sex offense in St. Johns County.
The defense did not call any witnesses or experts. Hairston’s attorney told the judge the defense and prosecution could not reach a plea agreement, so they left the sentence up to the court.
Hairston was given credit for the 250 days he has already served.