Former mental health counselor at West Greenville School arrested on sex abuse charges
A former South Carolina Department of Mental Health employee assigned to work at a Greenville County school was arrested on child sex crime charges Friday.
Christopher Clarke Haines, 42, was employed as a mental health counselor at West Greenville School when he was accused of sexually abusing a juvenile. The juvenile reported the alleged abuse on April 17.
GPD detectives from the family crimes unit arrested Haines and charged him with 3rd-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, unlawful conduct toward a child, criminal solicitation of a minor, and 1st-degree assault and battery.
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A spokesperson for Greenville County Schools stated that Haines had personal responsibility for the juvenile, and the action did not occur in his professional role as a counselor contracted by Greenville County Schools. The police department also confirmed this.
The warrants for Haines' arrest state that the behavior towards the juvenile occurred prior to and after their 16th birthday and that the alleged crimes took place at a home in Greenville "several times" until around March 8. The warrants allege inappropriate touching and that Haines supplied the minor alcohol, nicotine, energy drinks and money and would communicate with the minor electronically to coerce them into sexual activity.
The school district issued a statement on Haines' arrest, saying that once the district became aware of law enforcement’s investigation, Haines had no access to students, district employees, or school property.
"The district has communicated to parents at West Greenville School, where Haines was contracted as a mental health counselor," the statement reads. "Greenville County Schools requires the employees of contractors such as the South Carolina Department of Mental Health to undergo extensive background checks."
The GPD asked anyone with additional information, to contact the department at (864) 271-5333.
Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that Christopher Haines' alleged actions did not take place while in his official capacity as a counselor contracted by Greenville County Schools.
Chalmers Rogland covers public safety for the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, Greenville News and USA Today Network. Reach him via email at crogland@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Former counselor at Greenville school accused of sexually abusing minor
