A Hardeeville man turned himself in after police say he assaulted a minor in Bluffton.
Billy Thomas, 29, of Hardeeville, was charged on Friday with criminal sexual conduct with a minor under 16 years old, according to the Beaufort County Detention Center jail log.
The incident was first reported in July, according to Bluffton Police Department spokesperson Lt. Christian Gonzalez. Thomas turned himself in at the Bluffton Law Enforcement Center on Friday, Gonzalez said.
The investigation is ongoing, Gonzalez said.
If convicted of the felony, Thomas could face a fine, be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison or both, according to the S.C. Code of Laws.
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.
