News 13 investigated how an Horry County man charged with rape was out on bond after two prior sex crime charges; and found out the circumstances of his bond were not up to South Carolina law.
Horry County Police say Paul Shuler raped a 20-year-old woman who replied to a Craigslist ad on July 9th 2015.
The victim thought it was a modeling job, but investigators say Shuler attacked her when she would not pose in a bathing suit.
Shuler is charged with criminal sexual conduct and kidnapping.
Shuler faces more sex charges in other cases.
Prosecutors say he raped an 11-year-old girl in March 2014.
Three months later, Shuler was charged with inappropriately touching a 13-year-old girl; after authorities say he gave her drugs and alcohol.
A South Carolina code put into effect April 7, 2014 says the magistrate court cannot grant bond for a violent crime to someone already out on bond for a violent crime.
Records show that is exactly what happened.
Within three months, Shuler was twice charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
Both charges are considered violent crimes in South Carolina.
Horry County Associate Chief Magistrate Aaron Butler is the judge who granted Shuler bond both times.
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Solicitor, Jimmy Richardson, says Magistrate Butler would have known Shuler’s past.
“With regard to all bond settings, it is incumbent upon a magistrate, actually through state law, that they would look at an NCIC or a rap sheet. So they would see if not only if the person has been convicted of another crime, but if they’ve been charged with another crime,” he said.
Tuesday, News 13 reached out to Chief Magistrate Margie Livingston but she did not call back.
Wednesday, News 13 reached out again to Magistrate Livingston and again did not hear back.
News 13 went to the Horry County Court House where Magistrate Livingston’s office is, but employees said she had left for the day.
Magistrate Butler refused to comment on the Paul Shuler’s cases.
The law was relatively new when Shuler was let out of jail the second time, so there might have been a mistake.
In this most recent rape charge, the magistrate court did not granted bond to Shuler due to the law.
Shuler could still receive bond from a circuit court judge.
At last check according to Horry County Sheriff’s website, Shuler is still in jail.
He was supposed to be in court last May for the first rape charge.
However a circuit judge allowed the trial to be postponed at the request of Shuler’s defense attorney in the case, Heather Von Herman.
News 13 reached out to her for comment but no one called back.
The website lists no attorney representing Shuler for the most recent charges.
