Report: DNA Evidence Clears Teens Charged In Greenbelt Rape

Update: The Greenbelt Police Department issued a statement on Friday confirming that state prosecutors dropped current charges against Sheldon Snead and K’Vaughn Brandon Hines who had been arrested in connection with the December 17, 2011 sexual assault of a 24-year-old female in the 6000 block of Cherrywood Lane in Greenbelt.

The investigation remains active. Stay tuned to Greenbelt Patch for further updates.

Original Article (June 29): Following four months in jail and another on house arrest for Sheldon Snead, of Laurel, and K'Vaughn Brandon Hines, of Mount Rainer, were freed Friday—after DNA tests exonerated them, according to an ABC 7 News report.

All along the two 19-year-olds insisted they were innocent.

Hines said the jail time was hard. "It was harder knowing that I didn't do something than to do it… because if you did something you can man up to it," he said, according to the report.

Snead said it was a helpless feeling.

With friends and family by their side, K 'Vaughn's grandfather, George Hines said he knew from the beginning his grandson didn't do it, the TV  station reported.

Patch contacted the Greenbelt Police Department for confirmation of ABC 7's report that the teens were freed and to seek comment on the exoneration of Hines and Snead, but did not hear back by press time. Patch will update the story with the police's response once it becomes available.

Read ABC7's full report on the story.

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