- October 5, 2026
Darnell Hairston, 61, of Hastings, has been sentenced to 30 years in state prison in connection with the kidnapping and abuse of an 11-year-old boy, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the FCSO, Hairston, a registered sex offender, pleaded no contest Aug. 19 to kidnapping — inflicting bodily harm, aggravated child abuse, battery by strangulation, robbery with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer without violence. At a Sept. 9 sentencing hearing, Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols found Hairston guilty on each count and sentenced him to 30 years in state prison.
“This was one of the most successful ‘See Something, Say Something’ cases we’ve ever had — it led to the recovery of a missing child and the next three decades behind bars for the sex offender that was responsible,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Of course, we’re still waiting for complete closure, as his co-conspirator’s case is still ongoing, but this is an important first step.”
Staly also credited the citizen who reported suspicious activity, FCSO personnel involved in the investigation and the State Attorney’s Office for prosecuting the case.
Hairston remains at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he has been held without bond since his arrest, and is awaiting transfer to the Florida Department of Corrections.
The case dates to Dec. 31, 2025, when deputies conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 1 near Whiteview Drive after a caller reported seeing Hairston traveling with two juveniles, one of whom had been reported missing in St. Johns County. Deputies recovered the missing 11-year-old during the stop.
FCSO said the child later told detectives that Hairston had lured him to a wooded campsite in Flagler Estates, choked him until he lost consciousness, threatened him with a knife and firearm, tied him up and placed duct tape over his mouth. The child told detectives Hairston held him at the campsite for multiple days and made him travel on the floorboard of his truck covered by a blanket.
A 16 year old whom FCSO detectives identified as Hairston’s co-conspirator, is still awaiting trial. They are being charged as an adult and face charges including principal to armed kidnapping, aggravated fleeing and eluding, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and grand theft of a motor vehicle.
