Staff Writer

A Union County man is accused of sexually assaulting two girls over a period of several years.

Melvin Beam, 43, of 49 West Apartments has been charged by the Union County Sheriff's Office with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. He is being held in the Union County Jail on $75,000 bond.

Lt. Robbie Hines said the sheriff's office was brought into the case at the request of the Department of Social Services after one of the girls, who now is a teen-ager, disclosed to a doctor she witnessed Beam sexually assault her sister during a three-month period in 2000 when Beam was living on 167 John Jeter Lane in Carlisle.

Hines met with the sister, who now also is a teen-ager, on Nov. 21 at the sheriff's office. A report said Hines could see she had reservations about discussing the case with a man. He arranged with the girl to meet with a forensic counselor at the Children's Advocacy Center in Spartanburg. Hines watched the discussion on a TV monitor in another room.

Monday, Hines met with the girl who had made the original report to her doctor. She told Hines that Beam also had molested her and raped her when she was younger.

Hines said the girls told them Beam threatened them with bodily harm if they disclosed the abuse.

Hines said the abuse of the two girls has been ongoing for the last eight years.

The investigation is continuing and more charges are possible against Beam.