Man accused of sexual conduct with minor

A Cayce man has been charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor younger than 16 after police say they caught him in the act.

West Columbia officers Friday night broke into a motel room rented by James Priester Jr., 48, the Police Department said. They were acting on a tip from a 14-year-old girl’s mother, who told police she believed her daughter was in the room with Priester.

Police say Priester, a registered sex offender, was assaulting the girl when they entered the American Inn room at 1617 Charleston Highway. A search also turned up a bag of cocaine and alcohol, leading to additional charges of possession of cocaine and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, police say.

Priester’s bail was set at $75,000 on the sexual conduct charge and $5,000 on the other charges, police said.

— Kelly Davis