Fort Dorchester security officer fired before Monday arrestBy Noah Haglund (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
A former security officer at Fort Dorchester High School was fired on a finding of sexual harassment before North Charleston police arrested him this week on charges that included having sex with a student on campus, officials said. A female student reported having inappropriate conversations with Terence M. Thompson in April, said Pat Raynor, public information officer for Dorchester District 2 schools. Following standard policy, the district placed Thompson on leave while it looked into the matter. 
Thompson Related storyEx-school security guard charged in sex case -- 5.20.2008 Officials investigated for about a week, decided the claim was valid and fired him, Raynor said. They also grew concerned about possible criminal violations, she said. "Because of other rumors at that time, our superintendant (Joe Pye) immediately arranged a meeting with North Charleston police," Raynor said. Thompson, 41, is now accused of inappropriate conduct with two female students, ages 15 and 16. One of the girls is the same student who filed the sexual harassment complaint, said Spencer Pryor, public information officer for North Charleston police. An affidavit for contributing to the delinquency of a minor charges him with twice taking the 15-year-old out of class, and on another day, asking her for hugs and kisses. Thompson also is charged with stalking in connection with those events. Another warrant for contributing to the delinquency of a minor contains allegations of sex with the 16-year-old girl while on campus. The warrant accuses him of having oral sex with her in a book room in December 2005, then several on-campus sexual encounters between January 2006 and March of this year. The documents do not say whether the girl was 16 at the beginning or the end of this time frame. Raynor said Thompson had been working at the campus near Ashley Phosphate and Dorchester roads since it was finished in the early 1990s. More than 2,500 students are enrolled at the school. Thompson was a district employee, not a police officer, Raynor said. Thompson assisted two North Charleston school resource officers with parking enforcement and other safety duties. Thompson, a Ladson resident, turned himself over to police on Monday. Police said North Charleston Municipal Judge Victor Revelise granted Thompson a personal recognizance bond and forbid him from working around children or approaching within 1 mile of any of the victims, a police press release states. A State Law Enforcement Division background check showed no criminal offenses on Thompson's record. |
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Comments
This article has 45 comment(s)
Posted by Chief_SittingBull on May 21, 2008 at 2:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Seconds?!
Posted by SomeTruthPlease on May 21, 2008 at 6:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Even at those ages, shouldn't the girls have better taste?
Posted by ColdBeer on May 21, 2008 at 6:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
(cough) Dirt bag (cough)
Posted by gococks1985 on May 21, 2008 at 7:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder how many more incidents like this the district is covering up.
Posted by Tammie on May 21, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Terrible. Like someone said yesterday, WELCOME TO THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY!
Posted by CNN_10 on May 21, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Big John is going to have a taste with this guy here or better yet little mona. piece of s---
Posted by ms_lady2u on May 21, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The hell with "the Green Mile' character, send him to Rikers Island for life!!
Posted by wpc3iop on May 21, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Thompson is on the way to "Big Bubba"...
Posted by Marianne0558 on May 21, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey, maybe this girl was just using sex to get what she wanted.
Maybe she had sex with him to keep herself out of trouble (as in he wouldn't punish her for anything she did).
Who knows.
Maybe she was just skanky.
Posted by Early on May 21, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think a 15 or 16 year old girl doesn't know what she is doing. Not,,,repeat not saying this dirtbag is wrong but I have to think if he was lead on. These days, young girls can be very aggressive.
Posted by SomeTruthPlease on May 21, 2008 at 6:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Even at those ages, shouldn't the girls have better taste?
Or, should they have tasted better?
couldnt resist that one!
Posted by gococks1985 on May 21, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know I can think of 2 incidences on a personal level that never made it to the open b/c of their ability to sweep things under the rug...
Posted by CarolinaWren on May 21, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He was a brown noser at Coastal Center and no one would dare go against him in fear of losing their job.
Posted by ashleyatwork on May 21, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is he still employed with the Coastal Center??
They have children living there.
Posted by Girleygirl on May 21, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Only one month of school left so hopefuly we won't hear of any more inappropriate relationships with students and teachers.
Posted by unreal on May 21, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Marianne, are you kidding! As a grown man in a postion of authority he was so, so wrong. I could understand if he met the girl out and about but to know that she was 16 when they started is on him.
Posted by Marianne0558 on May 21, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
unreal,
I did not mean for my post to sound like I condoned this "man's" actions. It is extremely inappropriate to say the least.
Posted by My_50Cents_Worth on May 21, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don’t condone this type behavior, but have young girls lowered their standards that much…When I was in school, young girls crushed on the 20-something handsome recent college grad/intern types. You have to be young, naïve and have low low low self esteem to be pulled in by this one; he is no prize. Shame on you, perv.
Fathers: your daughters need you too...
Posted by Two_Sheds on May 21, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
While I in NO WAY condone the actions of sexual predators, my son (who attends FDHS) said that at least one of the girls in question is a "known skank" around the school campus.
If girls like her go around "chumming the waters," then people shouldn't be surprised when the predators start to surface.
Posted by Chief_SittingBull on May 21, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was going to leave this one alone today. You raised an interesting point. I have awesome relationships with my daughters, because I don’t want them falling for wise guys like this one. Fortunately for me I have a wife who pointed me back to the direction of fostering relationships with our daughters as well as our sons. I used to leave the girls’ issues to her…now I’m all over it. This dude is ill. I look at his mug and I also tried to figure out what the heck a young girl would want with that. Then it came to me, he said all the things, I ‘m sure, that no one had said to them before. They were given the attention and boost of confidence they were looking for and he took advantage. This fella is garbage.
Where have you been 50?????
Posted by Marianne0558 on May 21, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
two_sheds
thank you for proving my skank theory :)
Posted by Tammie on May 21, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For some reason, he just looks like when he speaks, he little to no teeth, I dunno. And he's seemingly a big guy. I love an occasional beer belly but jeez, that guy just gives ME the creeps.
Posted by Chief_SittingBull on May 21, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Skank or no skank this man should know better than to have relationships with teenage girls. I just can't justify his behavior...sorry.
Posted by Two_Sheds on May 21, 2008 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Marianne, according to my son, this girl has a widespread (no pun intended!) rep as "easy" and for not being particularly discriminating in her tastes.
No, a grown man has NO business dallying with a teenage girl, but if the girl is clearly and repeatedly "offering," then, like a lot of guys, he is going to accept, plain and simple. I think it's disgusting that these girls "put out" so freely, then later decide to press charges. Something is clearly wrong with the state of mind of anyone like that.
Posted by Marianne0558 on May 21, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Two_Sheds:
There IS something clearly wrong with someone who has that state of mind. It's called their parents.
The more stories like these that are printed, the more and more I lean towards home education for my child.
She's already getting locks on her windows for her 12th birthday ;)
Posted by My_50Cents_Worth on May 21, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am glad to hear that, Chief.
I had to take a hiatus. The comment thing was really getting to me. I’m talking up at night on the laptop typing in the dark…I had some spousal intervention, though…wasn’t allowed to use the computer at home, did not have time to use the computer at work. Day time for you all is night time for me so I had to pull some late nights to comment.
This is only a trial day. If I behave and sleep well tonight I can continue posting. :) We are gearing up to return to CHS for a few weeks so the whole house is excited. I want to catch up on news-my excuse for being online all night. ;-)
Take care of your girls.
Posted by GHU_3 on May 21, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I totally agree two_sheds. Why kiss and tell? You had consentual sex with a 40 year old man! And now you want to say he's stalking you? Be for real. Yeah this man had no business messing with a teenager but these young girls need to be held accountable. And yes a 16 year old girl know what they are doing. There having sex at 13. This man is probably one of many that has gotten caught up in this mess. I heard he is a good guy! Both parties are wrong. Consentual sex, don't waste our tax dollars! They both knew what they were doing.
Posted by CarolinaWren on May 21, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don’t belittle or call any child names unless you are willing to have someone do the same to yours. There is no excuse for this mans behavior. He is not a victim; he is a womanizer and a child molester. I can’t help but wonder how many other victims are there that haven’t come forward.
Posted by justlikeyou on May 21, 2008 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Two_Sheds where were you yesterday? I totally agree with you.
I feel like before we judge anyone here, we need to get all the facts. There are two sides to this story. How do we know this girl didn't throw herself at this man? And because he turned her down, she's claiming her did this and that. But if he admits to doing this, then of course he should be punished.
Have a great day Two_Sheds.
Posted by ColdBeer on May 21, 2008 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GHU_3, you've got your facts mixed up. The stalking charges stem from the second girl, not the one that consented to having sex with him.
Posted by GHU_3 on May 21, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CarolinaWren, you sound like you know this guy. He's a womanizer and a child molester? I understand the child molester comment but the womanizer?
Posted by CarolinaWren on May 21, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I do know him!
Posted by GHU_3 on May 21, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So? And? These girls consented. That's the key. Nobody forced them. Yes morals are involved. And he should have known better. I'm in agreeance with that. But I work with teenagers on a daily basis and if I was a man, I wouldn't want to work in the school district. Just because of how these girls carry themselves and act. Parent will be suprised. I would put money on this that these girls has had several older men encounters. They knew what they were doing. Consentual sex. No crime committed. And the second girl claiming that he took her from class and asked for a hug and kiss? Hmmmmm. Don't be hast to judge. I wouldn't want my daughter messing with an older man, but if she consented thats a different story.
Posted by My_50Cents_Worth on May 21, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CWren, I think you struck a nerve.
Posted by GHU_3 on May 21, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So whats he's like? Do he come off as a Pedophile?
Posted by ColdBeer on May 21, 2008 at 3:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GHU_3, once again, only one of the girls consented. The other girl was NOT consenting.
Posted by gococks1985 on May 21, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who cares if they consented or not. If one was a "skank" or not. He was placed in a position of authority and abused that authority. His behind needs to fry for this as does the districts.
Posted by Girleygirl on May 21, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A grown man should be able to control his sexual demons if he chooses to work around teenagers especially if one is married with kids of his own. If we can teach our children when and how to say no, he could have said no as well. Better yet he should not have put him in a position where hot little girls can seduce him.
GHU you do see where the claim was also investigated by the school? The police must have thought that the claim had some truth to it or he would not have been arrested.
Posted by abitskeptical on May 21, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't give a rat's a** if the girl danced naked on his lap-- he was no how, no way justified in having sex with her.
If she was coming on to him, being suggestive or even outright blatant about her 'intentions' he should have run, not walked, & reported this to whoever is in charge of him & made sure he had a chaperon/witness with him whenever he had to deal with any of the female students.
This man's behavior, in NO JUSTIFIABLE way, can be excused by the behavior of the girls--no matter how "skanky", promiscuous etc it was.
Posted by ColdBeer on May 21, 2008 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not sure I've ever seen the word skank in type so many times <lol>.
Posted by Sally on May 21, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
what ever happened to innocent until proven guilty.... if he is quilty then a judge and jury will punish him. There are two side to every story. People are falsely accused every day..... Everyone has already condemned this man already before the true facts are laid out.
Posted by abitskeptical on May 21, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sally you are right as far as the criminal charges.
However, the school did do its own investigation for a week & concluded that the claims were valid.
Posted by cbew on May 21, 2008 at 5:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i think any one of you, who blame this whole situation on Terrance, is crazy...
both of the girls are well over the age of knowing what their doing.
im a student at fort dorchester, and no one would ever think for mr terance to do something like this. and for the two girls, if mr t gets kicked out, so should they.
they knew exactly what they were doing and they both used it to their advantage. getting out of class to go to the security office... they prokoked him time and time again...
one of the girls is a slut. any one who knows her, knows thats her repuation. im not justifying mr terrances actions at all, but he doesnt deserve all the blame.
stalking and harrassment?
thats a load of bullcrap... if that was the case, their would be plently more people, he wouldnt just stop at these two girls...
if that girl didnt play the part, then mr terrnace wouldnt of had anything to do with her... she did something to lead him to think she wanted it...then something happened and she didnt get her way, so she changed everything around and made it sound liek he was stalking her. BS!
Posted by abitskeptical on May 21, 2008 at 6:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
chew-IF Mr. Terrance had sex with these girls then,
Mr Terrance is well over the age of knowing what he was doing.
Mr. Terrance knew exactly what he was doing.
Mr. Terrance was abusing his "security" position by getting the girls out of class.
The 1st time Mr. Terrance was "provoked" by one of these girls he should have reported it.
Mr. Terrance is to blame that he was "provoked" time & time again.
Mr. Terrance deserves all the blame for his actions.
You know nothing about stalkers. They usually do not stalk multiple victims.
Mr. T shouldn't have had anything to do with the girl regardless of what "part" she played.
It doesn't matter how bad she wanted it. Mr. T had no business giving it to her.
Posted by ColdBeer on May 21, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
cbew, I have serious doubts that you are really a teacher at the school. Your thought processes are just too screwed up. If you ARE a teacher at the school you should be fired as you are a danger to the students.
Posted by hal on May 22, 2008 at 5:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok, im a freshman at FDHS, and personally..I couldn't name ONE girl who goes there that would have sex with Terence, illegal or not. The one who did, is nasty, and clearly isnt loved or cared for enough outside of school, that she had to turn to him. Even if she did tease, or seduce him, a man 41 years old should know how to say no! They are both to blame is this one, cause it takes two to tango (: