Staff Writer

A Circuit Court judge has ordered that a Jonesville man, who faces a child molestation charge, be placed under house arrest if he is released on bond from the county jail.

Marion Eugene Palmer, 53, of 415 C St., appeared in court on Aug. 11 for a probation violation hearing. Judge John C. Hayes III took revoking Palmer's probation under advisement. He signed an order on Aug. 25 which was received earlier this week by the Union County Office of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services.

In his order, Hayes said that Palmer is to continue on the five years of probation he is currently serving, It is set to end in October of 2011. Hayes ordered Palmer be held accountable for standard conditions of the sex offender act.

If Palmer posts the $100,000 surety bond on the current lewd act charge, he will be under house arrest. He would be able to travel to church, the doctor, or any other place approved by his probation agent. He would remain under house arrest until his current charge is disposed of, or one year, whichever comes first.

According to court records, Palmer was on probation for an incident that occurred in Spartanburg County.

On Sept. 3, 1996, Palmer was sentenced to 20 years in prison for criminal sexual conduct with a minor, second degree. On a second count of CSC second, he was given a consecutive 20-year sentence suspended to five years probation.

Palmer was released from prison on Nov. 1, 2006. He was not to have unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18 and was to report to his probation officer any contact he has with police.

According to court testimony, Palmer had contact with a 15-year-old neighbor, including writing her a letter. Jonesville Police issued him a trespassing notice for the girl's home in August of 2007 and Palmer did not report this.

On Aug. 15, 2007, Palmer was charged with committing a lewd act on a child. He was accused of touching the girl inappropriately.

The probation revocation hearing was much like a trial and included testimony from witnesses with Hayes being the sole fact finder.

Union County Public Defender Ross Burton called to testify the grandmother of the child with whom Palmer had contact and relatives of Palmer.

Ben Aplin, a lawyer who represents the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, handled the case for the state.

Beth Belue with the Union County Office of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services and Jonesville Police Officer Ron Bishop testified for the state.