Sexual assault, kidnapping suspect captured

Darlington County sheriff’s deputies have arrested a sexual predator suspected in a sexual assault and kidnapping without incident at his residence.

Derrick Swinney, 39, of 1208 Plum Branch, Hartsville, was wanted on first-degree criminal sexual conduct and kidnapping charges in connection with an incident that happened early Friday morning, according to a sheriff’s office press release.

He was arrested with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force.

Investigators said Swinney assaulted the victim in a wooded area near East Old Camden Road in the Green Hill community.

Swinney has a record of sexual assault, having been convicted of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in 1999 and released from prison in 2003, according to the State Law Enforcement Division’s Sex Offender Registry. He is one of only two sexual predators registered in Darlington County, according to the sheriff’s office.

A sexual predator is a different classification than sex offender. Sexual predators have to register every 90 days while sex offenders only register every six months.