Under-reported rapes lead to fleeing criminals

Editor’s Note: As of December 2016, all of Dr. Hart’s charges related to the accusations below have been dismissed and expunged from his record by the state of South Carolina.

The case of Rock Hill doctor Darlington Hart is disturbing on so many levels.

Here’s some background on the accusations the dentist faces:

Darlington Hart, 42, has a practice in Rock Hill on Constitution Boulevard, and another in Charlotte on England Street. Both offices are called Cornerstone Medical.Last week, Rock Hill police charged Hart with criminal sexual conduct. Police said at his Rock Hill office, Hart grabbed one of his employees by the arm, pulled her into a room, turned up the radio and raped her. He then told her not to tell anyone about it, police said.She reported it to police after two co-workers urged her to, investigators said.

This wasn’t the first time that the doctor had been accused of sexual assault, according to WSOC:

In one case, a 38-year-old woman claimed Hart raped her in July 2008 after giving her medicine to help her relax. She said it happened while she was under the influence of the medicine. That victim delayed reporting the incident for more than a year, and later decided not to press charges.Then, in March 2010, a 31-year-old woman told police that she went to Hart to get refills on pain medication. She claimed Hart grabbed her and said he’d give her more pain medicine if she’d have sex with him. She told police she delayed reporting the incident because Hart threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

It wasn’t until a third rape allegation surfaced and Hart fled the country that police gave the two previous cases a second look. Really? Have we gotten to a point in this country that you have to rape (allegedly) three women before any reported rape is taken seriously? Even after being charged, somehow Hart was able to flee the country.

Police said Hart fled the country after he was accused most recently. A national crime database found him briefly in London after he took a flight there from Charlotte. Now, police think he’s in Nigeria, where he’s from.That nation does not commonly extradite criminal suspects to the United States. It’s unlikely Hart will be arrested unless he returns to the U.S.

Hart, according to the Rock Hill Herald, was “convinced” to return to the states. Umm, he should’ve never had the opportunity to leave in the first place; with three allegations of rape, he should’ve been monitored by someone.

Hart was wanted for charges of criminal sexual conduct, third degree.

But we worry about putting marijuana smokers in jail on less-serious charges?

Rape is one of the most under-reported crimes in the nation, and cases like Hart’s pretty much show why.

According to RAINN, the Rape Abuse Incest National Network, 15 out 16 rapist will never spend a day in jail.

This article appears in May 31 – Jun 6, 2011.