South Carolina lawmakers push for harsher sexual child exploitation punishments
Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:12 pm
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.