An administrative error halts legal proceedings for a man accused of sex crimes; also new claims that he is being targeted by other inmates

On November 15, 2024By Pranco

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – Adam Renk was in court Thursday for what should have been his preliminary hearing. Renk is accused of sexual abuse of a child under the age of twelve. The charges include sexual torture and sodomy. But an administrative error in the state’s complaint forced the hearing to be rescheduled. One of the errors is the accusation of attempted sodomy – which should be sodomy in the first place.

“They have asked the court to dismiss this and they are going to refile the two charges, but hopefully this time their complaints will be correct,” said Kyle Henderson, Renk’s attorney.

While the administrative hiccup is rare, it is something that both sides want to see corrected before moving forward and the case goes to trial.

But that’s not Renk’s biggest problem. Just before his hearing, another prisoner allegedly threatened him in open court.

“Sir. Renk was sitting there minding his own business… And an inmate was making threatening comments to him,” Henderson said.

Attorney Kyle Henderson says his client has been in the protective solitary confinement of Metro Jail after allegedly being attacked by other inmates, and says he remains a target.

“He’s been spit on, feces thrown at him. As you can just see if you were in the courtroom, he’s clearly in danger because he’s in jail right now,” Henderson explained.

Renk has been held in Metro Jail without bail since last month. Henderson insists his client is not a flight risk, despite the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office saying he was on the run for two months and even changed his appearance after new charges were filed days after he was out of Metro for a second time in August left. .

“My client’s whereabouts are a matter between me and him… I cannot discuss these matters,” said Henderson. “The bottom line is, my client, our position is: He’s safer out of jail than he is in jail. And he showed up when he was supposed to show up. At no point when anyone was looking for him did he fail to comply with his court conditions and show up.

Renk’s preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for December 9.