News 12 First at Five; July 10, 2008

AIKEN CTY, S.C. --- One week after a sex offender was back on the streets, he's back in jail. He's facing 2 new charges, along with 3 previous convictions.

Daniel Lard has a pretty extensive history of molesting children, so a lot of what people want to know is, why was he free in the first place?

This is one of the many frustrating cases the Aiken County Solicitors Office is facing right now. Frustrating because it involves kids, molested at such a young age.

Lard was on the verge of passing out in his bond hearing today, learning he's denied bond in his latest charge, a lewd act on a minor under the age of 16.

"It's about time. It's about time," says child advocate Andrew McCaskill.

"Our judicial system is letting these people in and out too easily and it's got to stop," says Andrew.

Just last week, Lard was let out of jail on a $25,000 bond on a charge of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the first degree.

News 12 learning on Thursday from officials in Aiken County believe the Judge who released Lard on the bond, did have the history of Lard on a rap sheet to view.

"We're not just letting the weasels guard the hen house. We're throwing the weasels into the hen house," says Andrew.

In October of 2002, Lard, as a juvenile, pleaded guilty to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature involving a minor. In June of 2003, the same charge, landing him on the sex offender registry. Then in 2006, as an adult, he pleaded guilty to the same charge, which he is still on probation for. Then, the two most recent charges.

The family of one of the victims is speaking only to News 12.

"It could have been prevented if they would have left him there and then, or got him some help way before now instead of waiting till late," says the victim's mom.

"We have so many sex offenders. In fact, Aiken County has the highest per capita rate of child sexual abuse in the state," says Solicitor Brenda Brisbin.

"We need to stand up and protect our children. This has got to stop," says Andrew.

Three years ago, Aiken County had the highest rate of child molestation and numbers continue to be high. The Sheriff's Office tells News 12, this year alone, there have been almost 70 arrests for child sexual molestation and assaults.

As for Daniel Lard, he could spend the next two months in jail, depending on if he asks for a bond hearing. His first appearance in court will be September 5th.

One of the victim's family also talked to News 12 more about the situation they are going through right now.

"We had to watch our daughter go through depression. We had to watch her keep herself closed up in her room. She was scared to go to school because she was afraid of what others thought of her," says the victim's mom.

"Every time I think about the bad thing about it, or what I should have done about it. I still have to think about if I don't forgive him, then God won't forgive me," says the victim's father.

Lard would be facing, for both of the current charges, a minimum of 10 years and a max of 45 years in prison.