Naples man with child porn charges could be off the hook

Author: Corey Lazar
Published: Updated:

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla.- WINK News confirmed a major child porn case in Collier County could be thrown out.
Attorneys for 40-year-old Robert Hinote say they expect hundreds of charges to be dropped against their client.

Hinote’s attorneys say Collier County deputies illegally searched his home back in 2010. According to the attorneys, an appeals court agreed with a local judge to throw out all the evidence taken from Hinote’s home.

The State Attorney’s Office did not confirm to WINK News if and when they may drop the charges.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office did not want to comment on this case.

Deputies say they initially searched a home in 2010 where they thought child porn files were being shared online, but they didn’t find anything.
Deputies say they were then led next door to Hinote’s home. Deputies say he gave them permission to search his computer.

WINK News obtained brand new documents that show a judge granted a motion to suppress all the evidence taken from Hinote’s house, including the graphic images on his computer.
Hinote’s attorney, John Musca, claims deputies did not have a search warrant for the defendant’s home.

The State Attorney’s Office appealed the judge’s ruling, but the 2nd District Court of Appeals upheld that decision, meaning the evidence cannot be used.

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