OC Deputy arrested for abusing 9-year-old

A deputy with the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is behind bars after his arrest for assaulting his 9-year-old son. Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Jimmy Watt gives details. “On Oct. 23, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from an elementary school in reference to a possible physical abuse case involving a 9-year-old male child with the father of the child being a Sheriff’s Office deputy. Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw immediately notified the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and requested an immediate investigation from their agency. The SLED investigation determined that the father of this child, Robert Beddingfield, had violated the law by committing assault and battery in the third degree on his son. Due to the facts of this case, Sheriff Crenshaw terminated Beddingfield’s employment with the Sheriff’s Office effective immediately. SLED agents obtained a warrant for assault and battery in third degree and Beddingfield was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center. The Department of Social Services was notified and appropriate safety measures were put in place to ensure the safety of the victim. ‘No one is above the law,’ says Sheriff Crenshaw. ‘That includes employees of the Sheriff’s Office. Officers will not be treated any differently than any other resident of Oconee County and if allegations surface and are proven to be true, appropriate action will be taken.’” Beddingfield was hired by the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office in January of 2013 after being previously employed by the Westminster Police Department.