Ernest Eldridge Pelfrey
(Walhalla, SC)--------------------------------------The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man this past Saturday morning on a charge of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor – 2nd Degree.
33 year old Ernest Eldridge Pelfrey, who has listed addresses in Westminster and Starr, SC, was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center around 7:30am on October 8th. Pelfrey was given a $25,000 surety bond and released from jail after posting bond on Saturday.
The Sheriff’s Office investigation began on the afternoon of August 13th of this year when a deputy from the Uniform Patrol Bureau took a report of a minor who reported that they had been sexually assaulted by Pelfrey. The investigation was turned over to the Criminal Investigations Bureau.
Based upon evidence obtained during the investigation, Pelfrey has been charged with inappropriately touching the victim, a child, during a time period between January 1st, 2019 and August 13th, 2022. The investigation only involved one victim.
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation and in order to preserve the integrity of the investigation, and that of the victim in the Criminal Sexual Assault with a Minor case, the Sheriff’s Office will not release any information that could, either directly or indirectly, identify the victim in this case.