Sexual based offenses carry with them some of the most serious punishments that can be issued by a criminal court. With South Carolina police aggressively pursuing the investigation of sex crimes, an individual can be taken into custody shortly after the initial complaint has been logged. Although an arrest may come quickly after the complaint, the acts alleged in the complaint may give rise to some question as to whether the evidence in fact supports the allegations.
A man has been charged with several sexual offenses after it was alleged that he engaged in sexual acts with several children. One child, who was under 11 years of age at the time, stated that the man had perpetrated the acts in a two year period that started in 2010. Meanwhile, another child stated that the man assaulted similar acts to them in 2011.
As a result of the allegations the man was taken into custody. He was held on $5,000 bond. If convicted of the sexual battery cases, the man faces a potential sentence that could result in him spending the rest of his life behind bars.
It may be easy for South Carolina residents to jump to conclusions in this case, given the severity of the sex crimes that are being alleged to have been committed. However, the justice system does not allow for a presumption of guilt. Instead, a prosecutor must prove each and every element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. If this cannot be done, the defendant is entitled to have the case dismissed.
Source: thestate.com, “Olanta man charged with sex acts involving minors,” Robert J. Baker, June 20, 2013
