A Bluffton man was charged Wednesday with a May sexual assault of a teenager.
Thien Pham, 45, of Bluffton, was charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the third degree, according to the Beaufort County Detention Center’s Inmate Inquiry System. The minor was between the ages of 14 and 16, the records showed.
The incident was initially reported in early May, according to Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Maj. Bob Bromage. After an investigation, deputies obtained a warrant and found Pham at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday in Bluffton. He was transferred to the Beaufort County Detention Center, where he was awaiting a bond hearing.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, help can be reached at the National Sexual Assault Hotline at (800) 656-4673
When we publish mugshots
The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette publishes police booking photos, or mugshots, in the following instances:
In situations where a public figure or someone in a position of public trust is arrested
In cases where there is an immediate and widespread threat to public safety
In cases where the arrested person is accused of a crime reporters have evidence to believe involved numerous, unknown victims
Reporters will avoid using mugshots as lead images for online articles in order to limit their circulation on social media, except in cases where the public is served by the immediate identification of the accused. Reporters and editors may use discretion in situations that don’t meet the criteria outlined in this policy but still present a compelling reason to publish a mugshot.
Sofia Sanchez is a breaking news reporter at The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. She reports on crime and developing stories in Beaufort and its surrounding areas. Sofia is a Cuban-American reporter from Florida and graduated from Florida International University in 2020.
