Greenwood, S.C.; February 13, 2024 – A Greenwood man will spend the next two decades behind bars after pleading guilty to charges that he molested a girl under the age of 14 for a period of nearly seven years, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Tuesday.
Christopher Raheem Covington, 29, pleaded guilty on Friday before his jury trial was to begin at the Greenwood County Courthouse this week to one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and one count of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Circuit Judge Eugene C. Griffith then imposed a negotiated 20-year prison sentence.
In September 2021, the victim’s mother notified authorities that she had discovered explicit pictures of her daughter on Covington’s phone. Covington admitted to deputies at the scene that he had the explicit pictures and that he should be taken to jail. The victim then disclosed to investigators that Covington had been abusing her for a period of nearly seven years.
Deputy Solicitor Yates Brown handled the case for the state, with assistance from 8th Circuit Investigator Windy Chappell and 8th Circuit Victim Advocate Rhetta Smith. Covington was represented by Clarissa Joyner of the Orangeburg County Bar.
Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his team along with investigators with the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office and Greenwood Police Department in securing the conviction and lengthy prison sentence.
“Christopher Covington is a sexual predator that we are glad will be behind bars for the forseeable future,” Solicitor Stumbo said following the sentencing. “Our team did a fantastic job getting this result, and did so without this brave young lady having to take the witness stand against her abuser in trial this week. We pray that she can begin to move forward now as a survivor of the most despicable of crimes.”