South Carolina lawmakers push for harsher sexual child exploitation punishments

[Jim Burton]

https://www.wbtv.com/2026/01/06/south-c ... nishments/

The Carolinas are continuing to see more cases where children are being targeted on the internet.

Now, South Carolina lawmakers are calling for harsher punishments for child predators.

A Lancaster County man and former business leader is accused of grooming, exploiting, and sexually abusing a 14-year-old he met online, according to court documents.

The Operations Director of Safe Passage, Joan Harris, said more and more clients are coming in after being approached online.

According to court documents, 56-year-old Lafe Hunter Thompson is accused of participating in sexual acts with a 14-year-old. He was the former franchise of Lancaster’s Chick-fil-A — according to its current operator, who said they are moving forward from those actions.

According to prosecutors, Thompson pleaded guilty to a 10-year assault and battery felony and received probation. He is currently not serving time in prison, but faces prison time if probation is violated.

[Jim Burton]

THE STORY

https://www.heraldonline.com/news/local ... 28650.html

The former owner of a South Carolina Chick-fil-A restaurant has avoided prison after admitting to a sex act involving a boy in Fort Mill. Lafe Hunter Thompson, 58, who had been the franchisee of the restaurant in Lancaster, pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree assault and battery in York County criminal court. Fort Mill police originally charged him in January 2024 with criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

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