South Carolina Trooperโ Accused of Sexual Assault โฃby Caregiver During Recovery
LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C.โข – A South Carolina state trooperโ recovering โfrom โฃserious injuries sustained in a September traffic crash is nowโค theโ subject of a sexual assault investigation involving a caregiver, according to a report obtained by โWIS.
The trooper, identified as LaBounty, was injured while conducting โฃa trafficโค stop โฃon Augusta Road.He spent weeks โขhospitalized and recently โreturned home to continue rehabilitation and physical therapy.
According โขto an investigator’s report, a caregiver told authorities that LaBounty made anโ unwanted advance toward herโฃ while she was providing โขcare atโข his home. The aide stated LaBounty abruptly stopped an interaction, โallowing her to โฃgather her belongings andโข leave.As she departed, she alleges he said,โข “what โhappens inโ this house stays in this house.”
The caregiver reported the โincident after callingโ outโข ofโฃ her โขscheduledโข weekend work. She also claims LaBounty confided to another caregiver the following day that he had made โan โadvance the night before.
The South Carolina Department of public Safety (SCDPS) confirmed it was awareโ of the allegations but โฃdeclined to comment further. A spokesperson clarified that while troopers are sometimes provided for “emotional and physical support” to officers recovering fromโข line-of-duty injuries,โข this is notโฃ an official policy requiring a trooper’s presence during โคcaregiver visits.
LaBounty remainsโ on extended medicalโ leave. His attorney, โขRobert Goings, โขstated they learned of the allegations Tuesday and, due to LaBounty beingโ in anโ inpatient rehabilitation facility,โ are currently unable to respond. goingsโ added that the allegations are โ”fully out of character” for the trooper.
The allegationsโ surface days after LaBounty filed a lawsuit claiming the lexingtonโ County Sheriff’sโฃ Department, along with two other drivers, shares obligation forโค the crash that caused his โคinjuries.
This is a developing story.