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Burton firefighter wanted on charges for soliciting sex from 13-year-old Firefighter linked to case involving death of Trey Pringle By Mindy Lucas An area firefighter accused of using a chokehold on a Seabrook man who died after an altercation with authorities in 2018, is now wanted on charges of soliciting sex from a
13-year-old girl, officials say. The Beaufort Police Department has taken out warrants for Brandon Cory Thomsen, 46, of Beaufort. The warrants include one count of criminal solicitation of a minor and one count of disseminating obscene material to a person under 18, according to the department’s spokesman Capt. George Erdel. Thomsen is a firefighter with the
Burton Fire District. As of press time on Tuesday, his whereabouts were unknown and no arrests had been made, Erdel said. The mother of the 13-year-old contacted police on Nov. 28 after she discovered her daughter had received illicit messages from Thomsen via Snapchat, according to a redacted police report obtained by The Island News.
Snapchat is a popular mobile app that allows users to share photos or send messages that are available for a short time only before becoming inaccessible. Described as a “good family friend� in the report, Thomsen had asked to add the 13-year-old to his Snapchat a few days before the incident. He then sent the girl illicit song lyrics.
On Friday, Nov. 27, Thomsen contacted the 13-year-old asking her to “invite a friend� and that he was having a “get together� at his residence. He also sent her explicit messages of a sexual nature, according to the report. The 13-year-old became “extremely uncomfortable� and asked why he
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CITY OF BEAUFORT
BILL RAUCH
New mayor, council face Beaufort's unfinished business
W
elcome Mayor Stephen Murray and the new Beaufort City Council. There are great challenges before you. But looking across your ranks, I believe you are up to the job, that you will multitask as necessary, and that you will be a council that is remembered fondly for many years to come. You take office at a terrible time. The worst of the pandemic may still be to come; unemployment is high and may get worse before it gets better; the economy continues to teeter while Washington fiddles; and while it appears property tax revenues may hold up, the bed tax, the meal tax and other essential city revenues are way off. Be not afraid. In adversity, there is always opportunity. With that can-do spirit in mind let’s have a look at some of the city’s unfinished business that has been ignored for the past decade. Mayor Murray, I was
Beaufort Municipal Judge Ralph “Ned� Tupper, left, swears in Stephen Murray as Beaufort’s new mayor during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. Holding the Bible for Mayor Murray is his wife Melissa. At right are Murray’s twin daughters, Genevieve and Josephine. Photo by Bob Sofaly.
Ready for the job
Beaufort Mayor Stephen Murray, city council members sworn in By Mindy Lucas Beaufort business owner and former city councilman Stephen Murray was sworn in as Mayor of Beaufort on Tuesday night. Murray was joined by new council members Neil Lipsitz and Mitch Mitchell, who also won seats on the council in November’s General Election. The swearing in ceremony, pre-
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sided over by Municipal Judge Ned Tupper, took place at City Council’s most recent meeting, on Dec. 8, in council chambers. “Tonight, I begin my journey in a new capacity of service for our remarkable home town,� said Mayor Murray. “I realize that I’ve got very big shoes to fill and much to learn,� Murray went on to say. “But I’m
committed to the work, and I’m thankful for so many of you that stand with me always ready to share your knowledge, take up the work that needs to be done or pick me up when I stumble.� A native of Beaufort, Murray has served on City Council since 2014. He owns two Beaufort-based
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County libraries, pools re-open on limited basis.
Royals and Avengers squared off for the Beaufort County Adult Men's Baseball Championship.
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Lowcountry Life A2 News A2–6 Health & Wellness A7 Sports A8 Education A8
MORE ONLINE What Will “Mayor Billy� Be Doing Next? Former Mayor Billy Keyserling, 72, announced in July he would not seek re-election for a fourth term as Beaufort’s mayor. To find out what he’ll be doing next, read our feature “Longtime Beaufort Mayor finds fulfillment in work outside mayor’s office� online now at www.yourislandnews.com.
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