Liberty man accused of child sexual assault in church parking lot
CENTRAL — A Liberty man has been charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the first degree in a case involving a 3-year-old child. The alleged incident is believed to have occurred in the parking lot of a Central-area church.
Gary Clifton Hamilton, 54, of Christopher Lane in Liberty, was arrested and charged on April 26, according to the Central Police Department.
Central police say that on April 23, they received a report from the Anderson County Sheriff's office of criminal sexual conduct that had been reported to have happened in Central's jurisdiction.
According to the report, the assault had originally been reported to have occurred in Anderson County. Officers say after further investigation, it was determined that the incident had happened in the town limits of Central in the parking lot of Central Church of God, located on College Street.
The alleged incident is believed to have occurred when the victim, a 3-year-old at the time, rode to church with the suspect between the dates of August 25 and August 29 last year.
According to police, the victim's family was family friends with the accused. Officers say after questioning Hamilton, charges were filed.
A $50,000 surety bond was set, and Hamilton is being held at the Pickens County Law Enforcement Center in Pickens.