Sumter County deputies charge Rembert man after he allegedly fondled 15-year-old victim

Sumter County deputies have charged a Rembert man after he allegedly engaged in sexual activities with a 15-year-old female victim on five different occasions, according to sheriff’s office officials.

Braden Bunch, a sheriff’s office spokesman, said 34-year-old Demetrius Antonio Nelson has been charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor under 16 years of age in connection to the investigation.

Bunch said Nelson allegedly fondled the victim on five different occasions with the most recent incident occurring in July when Nelson, who is an acquaintance of the family, was alone with the victim at a Sumter County residence.

The victim told investigators that she and Nelson were watching TV when he allegedly began to fondle her, Bunch said. The victim said she allowed Nelson to do so because she knew he had been to jail before and did not want to get him in trouble, according to an incident report.

The victim’s mother was not home during the incident, and the victim’s siblings were in the other room, Bunch said.

Nelson was transported to the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center where he is being while he awaits a bond hearing, the detention center’s records show.

This story was originally published August 21, 2015 at 11:34 AM.