Crimes against children, particularly sex crimes, are met with severe consequences in South Carolina. The sexual assault of a minor is taken very seriously by local authorities, and the ramifications for those convicted of such an act face can be life-altering. Prison time, mental illness status and required registration with the state’s sex offender registry can all hinder future prospects.
Recently, a 27-year-old man was sentenced to serve prison time for criminal sexual conduct involving a minor. The incident reportedly occurred in 2009. He had five other charges of sexual conduct and indecent exposure involving a minor, but they were dropped because of evidence issues. With this conviction, he is considered subject to a law known as the Sexually Violent Predator Act, and certain consequences may follow if he is deemed to be a violent sexual predator.
This Act requires these predators to be committed to the state’s Mental Health Department and subject to psychiatric evaluation. They are put through a thorough treatment program and their mental status is reexamined annually. If this treatment is deemed effective and they are released, they must register with the state’s sex offender list. They must also update their photo every 90 days.
Protecting children is understandably a top priority for South Carolina law enforcement agencies. Accusations of the sexual assault of a minor should not be taken lightly, nor should those accused be punished without appropriate proof of the crime that meets the stringent requirements of our criminal justice system. If prosecutors fail to produce the necessary evidence of the crimes alleged, no conviction can be secured.
Source: carolinalive.com, Child molester sentenced to prison for sex crime, other charges dropped, Sharon Tutrone, March 19, 2014