ROCKINGHAM — A Richmond County business owner has pleaded guilty to lesser charges a year after being accused of inappropriately touching teenagers in the Palmetto State.
South Carolina court records show that Steven Paul Thompson pleaded guilty Monday, June 15 to two counts of third-degree assault and battery.
Thompson was originally charged with two counts of second-degree assault and battery and one count of giving alcohol to minors.
According to an incident report from the North Myrtle Beach Police Department, a 17-year-old victim told officers that Thompson “rubbed his hand to her lower back and then cupped her buttocks, unwantedly” on both June 10 and 11, 2025.
The other victim, 18, told police that Thompson asked her to expose her breasts and later fondled her right breast while in a bathroom.
Records show charges were filed July 3, 2025 and Thompson was indicted Oct. 29, 2025.
According to court records, the sentence was 30 days or a $500 fine.
Court records show a jury trial is scheduled for July 27 regarding the charge of giving alcohol to minors. That trial, according to records, was requested on July 23, 2025 and has been rescheduled several times.
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.
