Man Takes Plea Deal in Child Sexual Abuse Case, Sentenced to Three Years in Prison
Thursday morning, William Austin Kinard III, 44, was convicted of online child solicitation, transmission of harmful material to a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
Facing a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, Kinard took a no-contest plea deal that was accepted by Judge Denise Ferrero, in which he was sentenced to three years in prison followed by two years of sex offender probation.
Kinard doesn't have much credit for time-served as he posted a $150,000 bond shortly after his arrest.
The plea agreement was signed by Assistant State Attorney Nicole Reed and Kinard was represented by Adam Stout, a private criminal defense attorney.
Update | August 6:
On August 3, the High Springs Police Department published a press release on the disposition.
There are rumors on social media regarding Kinard's wife being a supervisor within the Department of Children and Families; but this has not been independently verified.
This page will be updated after more information is uncovered.
Update | August 28: GnvInfo has obtained the charging affidavit that High Springs Police Department officers filed against Kinard in September 2025.
On September 8, 2025 Officer Tracy Taylor received an investigations referral request pertaining to Kinard, which was sent by Officer Adam Joy and approved by Sgt. Kendrick Hampton.
On September 11, 2025 the victim arrived at an appointment with the University of Florida Child Protection Team and was joined by a victim advocate and Taylor.
The victim reported that Kinard, the father of her friend, began privately messaging her and told her that he had a “dream” where he “wanted to have sex with her.” The police report indicates that Kinard went on to spam-call the victim and advised that he was “going to delete everything.”
Kinard further asked the victim for her Cash-App account so he could “send her money for graduation.”
On a recorded phone call, Kinard told the victim it was only “illegal” if they got caught. Kinard further made sexually charged comments towards the victim on the call. On the computer, the victim labeled the recording "perv." She gave the recording to police or a family member who turned it over to police.
Taylor changed the name of the video file from “perv” to “Video of the victim recording the Offender.”
Quotes from the recording and messages further affirm that Kinard had full knowledge of the victim’s age but still continued to sexually solicit her.
“I don't want to be a criminal,” Kinard said while committing multiple felonies.
Kinard is currently scheduled to be released in July 2029.
