Last week, a domestic dispute call at Dillon Manor Apartments led to a far graver investigation, after Dillon County authorities say they uncovered allegations that an 8-month-old girl had been sexually abused. Two Dillon residents, 27-year-old Sidney Kale Little and 24-year-old Michaela Denise Hodge, now face felony charges connected to the case.
According to the Dillon County Sheriff's Office, officers initially responded to the domestic dispute at the apartment complex before receiving information alleging that Little had committed sexual acts against his 8-month-old daughter. The alleged abuse is said to have occurred between August 1, 2025, and September 27, 2026, at a previous residence outside Dillon city limits but still within the sheriff's office jurisdiction.
Little is charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor under 11 — an offense that, under South Carolina Code Section 16-3-655, is classified as a felony punishable by up to life imprisonment. Hodge, meanwhile, is charged with unlawfully placing a child at risk of harm and misprision of a felony, with investigators alleging she had knowledge of the acts.
How the Case Moved From Patrol Call to Multi-Agency Probe
Dillon police investigators contacted the Dillon County Sheriff's Office after the initial domestic dispute call, and the case quickly grew into a coordinated response. The Dillon County Sheriff's Office worked alongside the Violent Crime Task Force and the South Carolina Department of Social Services, gathering statements and taking steps to ensure the safety of the children involved, per the station's report.
The information developed during that joint investigation led to the arrests of both Little and Hodge on Thursday. Investigators also served a search warrant at a residence that same day, though they have released no additional information about whether anything was seized.
Bond Decisions Reflect Severity of the Charges
At a bond hearing Friday, Little was ordered held without bond, while Hodge was given a $30,000 surety bond. The disparity traces back to South Carolina court procedure: magistrate judges presiding over initial bond hearings lack the statutory authority to set bond for charges carrying a potential life sentence, such as first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor under 11, according to David R. Price Jr., P.A. That means Little must remain held until a Circuit Court judge reviews his case.
Hodge's charge of unlawfully placing a child at unreasonable risk of harm carries its own statutory exposure. Under South Carolina Code Section 63-5-70, the offense is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a discretionary fine, or both. Her second charge, misprision of a felony, is a less common common-law crime still actively prosecuted in South Carolina; it requires proof that a defendant knew of a felony and intentionally concealed it without acting as an accessory, per Encyclopedia.com.
What Comes Next in Court and Beyond
Both felony charges will fall under the jurisdiction of the Court of General Sessions, where prosecutions are directed by the Circuit Solicitor's Office rather than municipal or magistrate courts, according to Snell Law. That criminal track runs separately from any child-welfare proceedings; when DSS substantiates abuse or neglect during a joint law enforcement inquiry, individuals can be listed on the South Carolina Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect, an administrative sanction independent of the criminal case's outcome, per the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC.
Dillon County Sheriff Jamie Hamilton thanked Dillon police, sheriff's office detectives, the Violent Crime Task Force, and DSS for their cooperation in the case, noting that the agencies worked together to protect the children involved. Hamilton assumed the sheriff's post after being appointed by Governor Henry McMaster following the unexpected death of Sheriff Douglas Pernell in August 2023, and he later won a special election to retain the position.
The investigation remains ongoing, and it is not yet known whether additional evidence was recovered during the October 1 search warrant, whether DSS has placed any other children in protective custody, or when Little and Hodge will next appear in court.
