Columbia, SC (WLTX) - The South Carolina Attorney General's office has filed five new charges against the former head of the Richland County Recreation Commission.
The new charges against James Brown III include criminal sexual conduct third degree, attempted sexual criminal conduct third degree and three charges of misconduct in office.
Brown was indicted by the state grand jury in October of 2016 on misconduct charges.
Previous Coverage: Head of Richland Recreation Commission Indicted
Prosecutors said in court Tuesday part of the case involves an incident where they claim Brown coerced an employee to have sexual contact with him, and another case where they say he attempted to force a woman to perform a sex act. In court, prosecutors described an incident where they say Brown physically dragged a woman down a hallway, trying to get her into his office's bathroom. They say the woman was able to stop him in this incident.
The incidents happened between 2012 and 2015.
"He made several sexual comments to his female employees," one of the prosecutors said in court. "These comments included descriptions of their body parts, what he would like to do with them, and also requesting sexual favors from his employees. One individual was coerced into performing oral sex on the defendant in his private bathroom multiple times, and another female was physically dragged through the hall by her arm towards his bathroom at the request that she perform oral sex on him. However, she was able to not to."
"He is presumed innocent," James' defense attorney said. "We're not here before the court to try the case today. There is significant independent investigation that needs to be done in this case. There's a lot of allegations. This is indictments that are being brought two years later. Specifically, when looking at some of the allegations in the case there appear to be some inconsistencies with things that have been brought to my attention. Of course that's for another day before we come before the court."
The judge ordered Brown not to have contact with the alleged victims. Bond was set at $50,000 for the new charges.