An Aiken mother and her boyfriend were accused Monday of providing alcohol to the mother’s 16-year-old daughter and a female friend.
Even worse, the friend told police that the mother’s boyfriend touched and kissed her belly without her consent. She claims he was trying to have sex with her before she fought him off. According to the victim’s father, she is a special needs student.
(This is one of the stories in this week’s Jail Report, sold in local convenience stores. Cover: http://thejailreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Cover-Issue-708.jpg)
An investigation by Aiken Public Safety into the July 3rd party led to charges against 44-year-old Thomas Dunbar (pictured) of assault & battery as well as two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Deborah Ergle, 43 (pictured), was charged with one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She cannot be legally charged for providing alcohol to her own daughter, only the friend.
According to Lt. Jake Mahoney, the underage drinking took place at Ergle’s home on Palm Drive in Aiken. Dunbar, of Ridge Spring, also drove over and joined the party.
After alcohol had been consumed, Dunbar is accused of touching the victim. Police say the original complaint involved criminal sexual conduct, but an investigation revealed Dunbar’s actions “did not rise to level of criminal sexual conduct,” Lt. Mahoney said.
The victim’s father called The Jail Report on Tuesday, saying he was upset about the lack of sex charges against Dunbar since he was trying to have sex with his daughter.
The father says his daughter was just supposed to be celebrating the Fourth of July with her friend and her mother (Ergle). But Dunbar came over and that’s when the alcohol started flowing and the sexual advances started, he said.
His daughter has a low IQ, but she took karate for four years and was able to fight off Dunbar and leave the house. Ergle’s ex-husband lives nearby and took the girl to the police station to file a complaint.
The victim’s father said his daughter has been forever changed by the experience.
“I wanted him to be on the sex offender list,” he said. “And that’s gone now.”
