A 62-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman from Pageland are facing charges following a Chesterfield County investigation opened after a September 2026 report about allegations of sexual abuse involving a minor dating back to 2009. Martin Courtney was arrested Tuesday, and Dana Courtney was arrested Wednesday, after authorities say the probe uncovered a years-long pattern of alleged abuse along with claims that someone knew about it and failed to step in.
Investigation Traces Back to a September Report
According to Queen City News, the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office opened its investigation after investigators received a report in September from an adult who said they had been sexually abused as a child. Investigators say the alleged abuse began when the victim was 12 years old and continued for several years, according to the same account.
Martin Courtney, 62, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with six counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, the station's report states. He was issued a $65,000 bond.
Second Arrest Follows a Day Later
Dana Courtney, 56, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with unlawful neglect of a child and misprision of a felony, per the same account. The sheriff's office investigation reportedly uncovered allegations that someone knew about the abuse and failed to act to protect the victim, though the report does not specify which charge corresponds to that allegation.
Both Martin Courtney and Dana Courtney were transported to the Chesterfield County Detention Center following their arrests. Dana Courtney was scheduled to appear before a judge for a bond hearing, the article notes.
What South Carolina Law Says About the Charges
South Carolina law defines third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor as applying when an actor over the age of 14 wilfully and lewdly commits or attempts a lewd or lascivious act upon or with a child under 16, with intent to arouse, appeal to, or gratify sexual desire, according to the South Carolina Code of Laws. That statutory language describes the elements of the offense generally and does not by itself establish how it applies to this specific case.
