Being accused of committing a sex crime against a child is a grave accusation, in South Carolina or anywhere else. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident, felony charges may be issued which can potentially lead to fines, prison time and other penalties. As the consequences associated with a sex crime conviction can be quite severe, defending oneself against the accusations must necessarily focus on achieving the best possible outcome for the situation at hand.
Recently, a 46-year-old male from Abbeville was arrested and is facing a felony charge for sexual misconduct with a minor. According to the victim’s mother, the man inappropriately touched and rubbed against her 12-year-old daughter back in July. The victim’s mother was reportedly allowing the accused and his girlfriend to temporarily live in her home at the time of the incident.
According to state records, the accused has a previous history of earlier criminal sexual conduct convictions. He is also registered on the national sex offender registry. After his arrest for the current accusations, bond was set at $10,000. He was released the following day.
Regardless of this individual’s previous criminal history, South Carolina laws grant him the right to the presumption of innocence until, and only if, proven otherwise. As cases involving children are delicate in nature, it will be important to carefully examine and assess any evidence that prosecutors propose to use against this individual in order to ensure the rights of the accused are fully upheld. Fighting felony charges related to sex crimes involving minors can be a difficult task; however, it isn’t impossible. Depending on the specific facts of this case, different legal strategies may be utilized to mitigate any negative consequences associated with this charge or have the charges dismissed altogether.
Source: indexjournal.com, “Abbeville man faces sexual misconduct charges”, , Aug. 7, 2014