COLUMBIA, S.C. — Law enforcement is searching for a Columbia man they say was convicted of abusing a three-year-old child but didn't show up for his trial.
Nathan Ginter, 43, was found guilty of four counts of unlawful conduct towards a child Wednesday following a three day trial. However, Ginter was not present during any of the proceedings, so a bench warrant for his arrest was issued.
Details about his sentence were being kept sealed by the court until he's arrested.
Ginter was arrested back in March of 2022 after the child's mother took her to the hospital with severe burns. According to investigators, over a three month period Ginter repeatedly abused the child using various methods as a form of punishment. The child was left with bruises and burns as a result.
Other family members reported the abuse to law enforcement as well, prosecutors said. During the course of their investigation officers found numerous text messages that documented the abuse, In one case, prosecutors said they found a video of him abusing the child while narrating over the video.
Shortly after his arrest, Ginter was given a $1 million bond by a judge. At some point he paid that bond and was released.
Anyone who knows where Ginter is should call the Columbia Police Department or Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.