Harold Brown, a Dillon man charged in the 2014 molestation of a young girl, admitted his guilt before Circuit Court Judge Roger Henderson.  He pled guilty to Second Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor.
At the hearing, Assistant Solicitor Shipp Daniel explained that the State was prepared to pick a jury and go to trial this week, but Brown decided at the last minute to plead.
Daniel said the State would have presented not only the minor victim’s testimony but also medical evidence.
Judge Henderson approved of the negotiated 15-year sentence, adding that Brown will have to serve at least 85% of that sentence and upon his release will be required to register as a sex offender.
Daniel explained that the deal was made to prevent the young victim from having to testify at trial.
“We try to balance what we feel is an appropriate sentence with the trauma a young child could experience in having to testify,” said Daniel.  “In this case, the victim’s family and I thought 15 years was an appropriate sentence.  Hopefully now they can put this behind them and move on.”
Daniel also noted that Detective Monroe Herring of the Dillon City Police Department did an outstanding job in the investigation of this case.
Dillon attorney Rosalind Sellers represented Brown.