ROCKINGHAM — A Richmond County business owner is facing criminal charges in South Carolina following allegations of misconduct during a beach trip last month.
Steven Paul Thompson, 54, is accused of inappropriately touching two teenage girls June 10-12 while chaperoning a trip to North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, according to records from the NMB Police Department.
According to an incident report, both of the reported victims, 17 and 18, told police on June 15 that they were on vacation June 7-14 with her friends and that Thompson — one of three adult chaperones — was “acting creepy and attempting to flirt with the young girls” in the house on Ocean Boulevard.
Both of the complainants also reportedly told police that Thompson was encouraging underage drinking by saying it was “Shot O’ Clock” and giving shots of alcohol to others in the house every 15 minutes.
If someone declined a shot, according to the report, Thompson would “try to persuade them to consume it and stand there until they would take it.”
The 17-year-old reportedly told police that Thompson “rubbed his hand to her lower back and then cupped her buttocks, unwantedly” on both June 10 and 11.
The 18-year-old reportedly told police that Thompson cornered her on June 10 “and requested that she expose her breasts to him.” According to the report, she said that she felt “intimidated” and “trapped” in the situation and eventually exposed her breasts “as she felt this was the only way he would leave her alone.”
The report states that the second reported victim also told police that Thompson “somehow got her into the bathroom” — she reportedly doesn’t remember how — and “had her remove her top again and “began fondling” her right breast “without her consent, which made her extremely uncomfortable.”
Several friends reportedly noticed they were in the bathroom together and separated them. When asked what was going on, Thompson allegedly “tried to tell them that he was helping her while she was vomiting.”
The report indicates she told police she does not remember vomiting.
She also reportedly left the house to stay with other friends “due to her being uncomfortable.”
A video of Thompson allegedly cornering the 18-year-old was reportedly provided to police.
Thompson was arrested July 3 and charged with two counts of second-degree assault and battery and one count of giving alcohol to minors. He was jailed on a combined $5,500 bond and released on bail two hours after booking.
He is scheduled to appear in court July 30 on the charge of giving alcohol to a minor. The assault charges did not appear in online records July 11 because they are being transferred to a different court, according to the clerk’s office. The court date on those charges is currently unknown.
Records with the N.C. Secretary of State’s Office show Thompson as registered agent and president of S & A Thompson Enterprises Inc. He is also listed as an officer for the ABC permits granted to Godfather’s Pizza and Striker’s Bowling.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
