Staff Writer

Arrest warrants have been signed against a Union man accused of paying to take a shower with a child and then molesting her.

Chief Sam White of the Union Public Safety Department said authorities think James Cleveland Hinson, 20, may have left Union County when he learned officers were looking for him. The former McDonald's employee had been living at Foxfire Apartments on Meansville Road and had lived on Wesley Chapel Church Road.

A relative of the child who was molested, Monica Marie Dunn, 17, of 281 Belue Road, Jonesville, was charged Wednesday with accessory before the fact of a lewd act upon a child and accessory before the fact of an assault to commit criminal sexual conduct. Her warrants, signed by Investigator Robbie McGee, said she approved of and allowed the child to take a shower with Hinson on April 20.

An investigation into the case began on April 28 when Officer Mike Gregory and Officer Curtis Eubanks were called to Foxfire Apartments to handle a disturbance.

Ms. Dunn told officers she wanted to get her personal belongings out of the apartment. Before she could be escorted in, she told the officers she wanted to press charges against Hinson. She said her 11-year-old cousin spent the night with her and Hinson asked the child if she wanted to have three-way sex with him and Miss Dunn. The child got upset and went outside. Miss Dunn said she told the child she did not have to do this.

Then Hinson offered $50 for sex and was turned down. Next, he offered to pay $50 to have the child shower with him.

Miss Dunn said she told the child that would be okay and she would “stand outside the bathroom door so nothing would happen.”

The child got into the shower with Hinson and he later bragged that he had had sex with her.

McGee said Hinson is a white man, 5 feet 11 inches tall who weighs 245 pounds. He has brown hair; authorities were unsure of his eye color. McGee said Hinson has family in Chester and Georgia.

White said anyone with information on Hinson's whereabouts is asked to call Union County Crime Stoppers at 427-0800 or the Union Public Safety Department at 429-1713.

“A person may be eligible for a reward if a tip from Crime Stoppers apprehends him,” White said.

Miss Dunn is being held in the Union County Jail. No bond had been set for her this morning.