Cape man to serve 8 years for molestation

A Cape Girardeau man received an eight-year sentence Monday for child molestation.

Michael B. Hinman, 29, was sentenced in Cape Girardeau County court Monday after pleading guilty to the felony.

He faced a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

Hinman was arrested in January and confessed to a Cape Girardeau County sheriff's deputy, saying immediately after the act of molestation, he "felt a sick feeling" come over him, said Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle.

He denied committing the crime at first, Swingle said, but eventually confessed in writing.

According to Swingle, Hinman said he thought he needed "special help" and that the "devil" was fighting against him.

"I need serious help over the matter," Hinman told investigators.

"Jail time isn't going to fix what I did."

Authorities learned of the crime because the child's family called the Missouri Department of Family Serivces.

The Department of Family Services, the sheriff's department and the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence all played roles in the investigation, Swingle said.

NASV conducted a forensic interview and physical exam of the victim.

"Every aspect of the investigation was done extremely well," Swingle said.

Because the nature of the abuse did not leave any physical injuries or DNA evidence behind, the interviews of both the victim and the suspect became crucial, Swingle said.

Last year, there were more than 700 cases of child molestation reported to NASV, according to the organization, which covers 10 counties in Southeast Missouri.

In 2007, there were around 600, and so far in 2009, about 150 cases of child molestation have been reported to NASV.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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