Update: Lexington Man Arrested on Sex Charges; Held Without Bond

A convicted sex offender from Lexington who was caring for two little girls in his home has been arrested and charged with allegedly performing lewd acts on the youths, according to Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts.

Metts said deputies arrested John Shelby Wells, 63, of 171 Bluff Ridge Road, Lot B, at 1:18 a.m. Monday on two counts of performing a lewd act upon a child under the age of 16. On Monday afternoon a judge ordered Wells held without bond at the Lexington County Detention Center, said LCSD Maj. John Allard.

Arrest warrants allege that earlier this month Wells inappropriately touched the private parts of the two girls, ages 7 and 8, while he cared for the children at his home. The girls' parents regularly relied upon Wells to provide child care, Metts said.

Wells allegedly "used his private part to touch the private parts of a 7-year-old girl whom Wells was caring for at his home," Metts said. A second arrest warrant alleges that earlier this month Wells also inappropriately touched the private parts of an 8-year-old girl whom he was caring for.

The mothers of the girls reported the alleged incidents to the Sheriff’s Department on July 8 after being informed by their daughters, Metts said. Detectives began an investigation, which included forensic interviews with the two girls, he added.

"The mothers of the two girls told detectives that Wells began providing child care at his home for the two girls on weekends about two months ago," Metts said. "The girls’ mothers were acquainted with Wells. The girls’ mothers provided groceries to Wells in order to compensate Wells for the child care services that he provided for the two girls."

Apparently, Allard told Patch, "the mothers were aware Mr. Wells was on the sex offenders' registry, however they didn't really understand what that meant or about the details of the crime ... and didn't understand the significance they should attach to it. ... The moral of this story is, parents who are thinking about placing their child in a person's home or a daycare situation should check them out thoroughly."

Parents just might be surprised what they find if they do run a check on the state's online sex offenders' registry. Case in point: This reporter, who lives near the center of downtown Lexington, discovered no less than 20 registered sex offenders living within a two-mile radius of his home.

Under South Carolina law, committing a lewd act upon a child under the age of 16 is a felony that carries a maximum punishment of 15 years in prison, Metts said.

Wells was registered with the Sheriff’s Department as a convicted sex offender when the incidents occurred, Metts added. Under state law, Wells was required to register with the Sheriff’s Department as a convicted sex offender following his July 17, 1992, conviction for criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

To check out who in your immediate area is on the sex offender registry, click here. To search for someone by name, click here.

NOTE: Metts asked anyone with information about additional instances in which Wells might have interacted inappropriately with other children to contact the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department immediately at (803) 785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. Citizens also can provide information anonymously by accessing the Crime Tip link on the Sheriff’s Department web site.