Laurens, S.C.; August 3, 2018 – Eighth Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Friday that a child molester will spend the next 40 years behind bars after being convicted Friday afternoon by a Laurens County jury.
Michael Cliff Eubanks, 32, of Clinton, was found guilty of one count each of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, and third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor following a four-day trial at the Laurens County Courthouse.
Following the verdict, Circuit Judge Frank Addy Jr. immediately sentenced Eubanks to 25 years in prison on the charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, plus a consecutive 15-year suspended sentence on the charge of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. Judge Addy also sentenced Eubanks to 15 years in prison on charge of third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, with that sentence to run concurrently. Eubanks was sentenced to an additional five years of probation to start when his active, no-parole prison sentence is maxed out.
Over a six-year period, Eubanks repeatedly assaulted a girl under the age of 13. The victim came forward about the abuse in June of 2017.
Deputy Solicitor Dale Scott and Assistant Solicitor Julie Kate Keeney handled the case for the state with assistance from 8th Circuit Investigator Walter Bentley and Victim Advocate Rhetta Christian. Eubanks was represented by Rauch Wise of Greenwood.
Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his staff along with Inv. Jared Hunnicutt and Inv. Michael Polson of the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and Kim Little of Gilchrist Consultation and Counseling in securing the conviction and lengthy prison sentence.
“Predators like Michael Eubanks need to be behind bars so they can no longer carve a path of destruction through the lives of children to satisfy themselves,” Solicitor Stumbo said following the sentencing. “I am very proud of this young lady for having the courage to come forward and face her abuser in court. It is my prayer that she can now move forward and put this dark chapter of her life behind her.”