Full Notification

On July 20, 2018, a woman reported to the Sheriff's Office that a few weeks prior her employer—47-year-old Kenneth Reed—had physically assaulted her at his residence located at 18 Tuscarora Trail in the Habersham community. In the weeks that followed the woman’s report, four other women—who had also worked for Reed—reported that they suffered similar and more serious sexual assaults at the hands of Reed. The women reported the incidents occurred over a period of a year from May 2017 through May 2018 at Maggie’s Pub—where Reed is the owner—and at another business in Beaufort—where Reed is an employee.
 
Sheriff’s Office investigators met with the five victims over the past few months to obtain statements and details of the incidents. Investigators also consulted the 14^th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office during the investigation and, after the cases were reviewed by solicitors, they recommended that warrants be sought for Reed’s arrest for five offenses—three counts of Assault and Battery 2^nd Degree and two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct 3^rd Degree.
 
This morning, Sheriff’s Office investigators met with a Beaufort County magistrate and presented the facts of the cases. The magistrate found probable cause existed and issued warrants for Kenneth Reed’s arrest for the five offenses. A short time ago, deputies assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Warrants Section located Reed at his place of employment in Beaufort and arrested him for the five active warrants. Reed was transported to the Beaufort County Detention Center without incident. Reed’s bonds had not been set as of the time of this advisory.
 
Thank you for your partnership and continued commitment to the safety of our community.