27-year-old man charged with sexually assaulting 3-year-old, Richland deputies say

A 27-year-old man was arrested after deputies say he sexually assaulted a 3-year-old girl, according to a statement from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

Arcea Edward Smith was charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor and cruelty to children, according to the statement.

Smith is accused of assaulting the child between June 2012 and June 2013, according to the statement. The child recently told her guardians about the assault she endured while under Smith’s care.

Deputies and U.S. Marshals arrested Smith Thursday at about 6:30 a.m. near the 100 block of O’Neil Court, according to the statement. Smith was taken to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

Emily Bohatch

The State

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Emily Bohatch helps cover South Carolina’s government for The State. She also updates The State’s databases. Her accomplishments include winning multiple awards for her coverage of state government and of South Carolina’s prison system. She has a degree in Journalism from Ohio University’s E. W. Scripps School of Journalism. Support my work with a digital subscription