Sumter (WLTX) - A Sumter County woman was arrested a second time Tuesday in connection with a relationship that investigators say she's had with an underage teenage boy.
Connie Gainey, 31, was arrested Tuesday and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Captain Jamie Turner, with the Sumter County Sheriff's Department says that though this is not considered a violent crime, the victim in this case was too young to consent.
"He's still a young man, he's still a child, he's still in high school," Captain Turner said.
Last week deputies charged her with criminal sexually conduct with a minor in the second degree.
"We take it serious. The law's the law and we're going to enforce it," Captain Turner said.
Deputies say the sexual relationship started last year when the boy was 15. He's since turned 16.
Gainey has denied any wrong doing, saying she was never in a relationship with the victim.
Investigators say the boy ran away around midnight Monday. They say he was eventually found at a runaway shelter. Investigators say at some point while he was missing, he was with Gainey. As a condition of her bond, she was not supposed to have contact with him.
A family member told News 19 that Gainey was not with the victim the day he ran away.
Investigators say they've interviewed the boy again, and he's made statements which lead them to believe that the two had a relationship.
"When you've got an older person influencing a younger person, there's no telling what could happen," Capt. Turner said.
Gainey is awaiting a Wednesday morning bond hearing, where investigators say they'll ask for a tougher bond.
1/23/2008 8:57:49 AM
