A Bluffton man has been arrested on charges of assaulting a minor on Jan. 4, law enforcement officials say.
Lester Johnson, 34, of Bluffton was charged on Jan. 6 with second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, according to the Beaufort County Detention Center jail log. The alleged incident occurred on Jan. 4, said Lt. Christian Gonzales from the Bluffton Police Department. Johnson came in for questioning after a member of the victim’s family reported it to police.
As of Monday, Johnson remained in custody at the detention center in Beaufort. An attorney for Johnson has not been assigned, court documents show.
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.
