Charge dismissed against Gaffney minister

EDITOR’S NOTE: There was not evidence to support the charge against James “Ron” Singleton and it was dismissed on Sept. 24, 2015, court records show.

Original Story

The Limestone College chaplain has been charged with cruelty to children after police say he slapped his 13-year-old child several times in the head and face, held him down on the floor with his foot and hit him with his fist.

James Ronald “Ron” Singleton, 52, of Gaffney was charged with one count of cruelty to children Monday and was released on a $474 cash bond from the Cherokee County Detention Center. Singleton is also the minister of Limestone Street United Methodist Church in Gaffney.

In light of the charge, Limestone College President Walt Griffin has suspended Singleton without pay.

Gaffney Police Chief Rick Turner said Department of Social Services workers called his office after the child reported that he was assaulted by his father. The child told police that Singleton slapped him in the head and face, causing him to bleed from his nose and mouth, and later made him clean up the blood, Turner said, reading from the incident report. The police officer who responded heard Singleton admit to the child that he hit him several times on his face and head, the incident report states.

DSS photographed swelling, bruising on both sides of the boy’s face, a scratch on the child’s face and a bruise on the boy’s leg that was the result of a spanking with a belt, the report states.

DSS workers outlined a 45-day safety plan for the family, and the parents are allowed supervised visitation with the children, the report states. The children weren’t removed from the home.

This story was originally published September 16, 2014 at 11:33 PM.