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  Child molestation arrests average at least one a month web posted May 17, 2008  COUNTY – Edgefield
Sheriff’s
Investigators are exploring yet another child molestation case in
Edgefield County this year, this time with a 10-year-old victim that
allegedly was molested over a two year period. Arthur Williams, 32, is
currently being held without bond at the Columbia County Detention
Center for an aggravated child molestation charge by Grovetown Police.
Williams is facing charges of criminal sexual conduct with a minor
under the age of eleven in Edgefield County.Chief Investigator Lt. Randy Doran said the Edgefield Sheriff’s Office was alerted to the crimes after Williams was arrested in Georgia on Thursday. A majority of the molestations are believed to have taken place in Edgefield County in the Bettis Academy area. The process of the extradition of Mr. Williams to Edgefield County for formal charges is currently being addressed, “It could be a while before we see him over here,” Lt. Doran said. Investigator Jimmy Smith, who is leading the investigation, said if Williams fights extradition he would seek a “Governor’s warrant” which would order his appearance in Edgefield County. Under South Carolina law Williams, if convicted, will be facing an increased sentence due to the victim being so young at the time of the alleged crimes. Williams could be facing anywhere between 15 to 25 years minimum if convicted. Details of the case have not been released due to the ongoing investigation. Another case involves a 12-year-old boy that was allegedly molested earlier this year by an illegal alien has been investigated. The case came to light after family members of the victim brought the allegations to Saluda authorities, who alerted the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect’s identity, a Hispanic male, has not been released at this time; however, charges are pending in the case. The case is complicated, Lt. Doran said, because the victim is also an illegal alien and neither parent resides with the young boy. He stays with other family members who are also in the country illegally. “The fact they’re illegal doesn’t have anything to do with the crime,” Doran said. A warrant for the suspect’s arrest had not been issued on Thursday but Lt. Doran said charges are pending. The suspect has not been seen in the area and law enforcement agencies are aggressively seeking to locate him. Though it seems as if there are a growing number of molestations recently, investigators said there is not more of it going on, but rather more of it is being reported. Often children may be reluctant to tell a parent, but with the growing number of programs by law enforcement and other public and private agencies the child may reveal information to an impartial party. “Sometimes it will come out during an assessment for a program,” Lt. Doran said. In 2008 multiple cases have been reported resulting in at least four arrests, not counting Mr. Williams. In February of this year a 15-year-old teen was arrested for molesting a 12-year old boy. In April three were arrested for alleged molestations. Johnston Police arrested 41-year-old George Albert Jones on charges of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the first degree and other sex crimes involving a nine-year-old girl. Two teens were also arrested in April for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl during spring break. ©
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