Former Substitute Teacher Arrested After Allegations of Sexual Misconduct with High School Student
A man who worked at Aynor High School has been accused of having sexual relations with a 16 year old female student, and has been arrested on charges of sexual misconduct with a minor.
Horry County police charged 32-year-old Jerry David Love, from Galivants Ferry, of engaging a child under 18 years old for sexual performance – a serious charge of sexual misconduct.
Teal Harding, spokeswoman fo
r the school, says that Love has been removed from the substitute teacher list. She added that none of the sexual misconduct occurred on school property.
The student, who told school administrators about the incident after other female students came forward with accusations of harassment or misconduct, said the relationship had started in May.
Love is currently being held at J. Reuben Long Detention Center on a $10,000 bond. It is unclear if he has a lawyer.
Substitute Allegedly Committed Sexual Misconduct on Several Occasions
Initially, school staffers were alerted to the position when another student reported that she had received email messages from Love, the content of which made her uncomfortable. She told police that Love had asked her to go home with him, but she refused. Instead, they met in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Conway, where he kissed her. She said she backed away from him because she knew the relationship was inappropriate.
She said that the messages from Love started when he became friends with the primary victim on Facebook.
The victim, who will not be named, originally told school officials that she only talked to Love. Later, however, she admitted that she had had a sexual relationship with the former substitute teacher since May. She said that he would pick her up after school, drive her to an abandoned golf course, and they would have sex. Then, Love drove her back to school where her parents would pick her up.
According to the victim, the relationship began when they were on their way back from a church activity, when she rubbed his leg and accidentally touched him. Love told the victim that he liked it.
Sexual Misconduct and Criminal Sexual Conduct Charges in South Carolina
South Carolina law prohibits sexual solicitation of a minor, who is a person defined as someone under the age of 18. The law states:
A) A person eighteen years of age or older commits the offense of criminal solicitation of a minor if he knowingly contacts or communicates with, or attempts to contact or communicate with, a person who is under the age of eighteen, or a person reasonably believed to be under the age of eighteen, for the purpose of or with the intent of persuading, inducing, enticing, or coercing the person to engage or participate in a sexual activity as defined in Section 16-15-375(5) or a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60, or with the intent to perform a sexual activity in the presence of the person under the age of eighteen, or person reasonably believed to be under the age of eighteen.
(B) Consent is a defense to a prosecution pursuant to this section if the person under the age of eighteen, or the person reasonably believed to be under the age of eighteen, is at least sixteen years old.
(C) Consent is not a defense to a prosecution pursuant to this section if the person under the age of eighteen, or the person reasonably believed to be under the age of eighteen, is under the age of sixteen.
(D) It is not a defense to a prosecution pursuant to this section, on the basis of consent or otherwise, that the person reasonably believed to be under the age of eighteen is a law enforcement agent or officer acting in an official capacity.
(E) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than ten years, or both.
If you face sexual misconduct or criminal sexual conduct charges, contact the criminal defense and complex litigation attorneys at the Strom Law Firm today. We offer free, confidential consultations, so you can discuss the facts of your case with impunity. Do not hesitate to contact us. 803.252.4800.
