Man accused of molesting boy in Dolphin Mall bathroom while out on bond on child rape charge

SWEETWATER, Fla. ā€“ A man facing an ongoing court case centered around allegations that he sexually battered a teenage boy in Indian River County is now suspected of committing a similar crime in Miami-Dade.

Authorities took Hunter Nicholas Hines, 35, of Pembroke Pines, into custody on charges of attempted sexual battery and lewd and lascivious molestation on Monday.

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Court records show heā€™s already accused of victimizing a 14-year-old boy with Aspergerā€™s syndrome in 2022 when he was living in the Vero Beach area. Following his arrest in 2023, local news outlet TCPalm described Hines as a ā€œmicrobiologist who made several appearances on a popular wilderness YouTube channel and operates a research-based Instagram account.ā€ A judge ordered him to stay off social media following his arrest.

Indian River County court records show he was released on a $300,000 bond on April 24, 2023. Hines is now accused of victimizing another teenager at Dolphin Mall on Jan. 4.

According to an arrest warrant, the 13-year-old boy had gone into a bathroom at the mall, located at 11401 NW 12th St. in Sweetwater, and encountered Hines.

Authorities said Hines approached the boy as he was washing his hands, grabbed him and ā€œescortedā€ him into a stall. Investigators said Hines held the boy with one hand, pulled down his pants with the other and molested him.

The victim kicked Hines when he attempted to perform oral sex on him and escaped, going to the Dolphin Mall security office to report what happened, the warrant states.

They later contacted Sweetwater police, who turned the case over to what was then the Miami-Dade Police Department.

An MDPD detective wrote in the warrant that he reviewed CCTV footage, which showed Hines entering and exiting the bathroom at around the same time as the victim. The detective wrote that investigators were able to identify Hines through facial recognition software and said the boy was subsequently able to pick him out of a photo lineup.

Miami-Dade Sheriffā€™s Office deputies arrested Hines at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center Monday morning.

In bond court Wednesday, Miami-Dade Judge Mindy Glazer questioned why Hines wasnā€™t facing additional charges.

ā€œWhy wasnā€™t he charged with kidnapping?ā€ she asked. ā€œHe grabbed the victim, escorted him into a urinal stall and performed whatever act he did and held him against his will there until the victim escaped.ā€

Prosecutor Nessa Eth responded that ā€œthere may be additional charges forthcoming.ā€

Glazer ordered he be held on a $200,000 bond and ordered he stay away from Dolphin Mall and the victim if released. However, because of his existing bond agreement, heā€™s likely to be sent back to jail in Indian River County if he were to post bond in Miami-Dade.

As of Tuesday afternoon, he remained behind bars at TGK, jail records show.

Indian River County case

Hinesā€™ existing case on Floridaā€™s Treasure Coast revolves around allegations that he victimized another teen he met through the app Grindr on Nov. 7, 2022.

Indian River County court records state that the 14-year-old boy with Aspergerā€™s syndrome told investigators that Hines picked up the boy after chatting on the app, drove him to a neighborhood, then pulled down the boyā€™s pants and began performing oral sex on him. He then, Indian River sheriffā€™s deputies allege, forced the boy to perform the same act on him.

Authorities said the boy called a crisis hotline after the assault. They said he later provided links to Hinesā€™ Facebook and Instagram accounts.

2023 Indian River County mugshot of Hunter Hines. (Indian River County Sheriff's Office)

The teenager, deputies said, was able to pick out the then-33-year-old Hines out of a photo lineup.

Deputies later went to Hinesā€™ home and took a DNA sample, which they said linked him to DNA found on the victim.

Since his April 1, 2023 arrest on charges of sexual battery, lewd or lascivious battery and traveling to meet a minor, Hinesā€™ case has made its way through the Indian River County court system.

Online records show a ā€œprivate attorney docket callā€ is scheduled for Wednesday. Itā€™s unclear whether Hinesā€™ new Miami-Dade case will affect that hearing.


About the Authors
Chris Gothner headshot

Chris Gothner joined the Local 10 News team in 2022 as a Digital Journalist.

Liane Morejon headshot

Liane Morejon is an Emmy-winning reporter who joined the Local 10 News family in January 2010. Born and raised in Coral Gables, Liane has a unique perspective on covering news in her own backyard.

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