O’Neal
A Greenwood man has been charged with child seduction after police say he asked a child to perform sexual acts several times over a 7-month period.
Robert Brian O’Neal, 56, was charged this past week with one count of child seduction, a Level 6 felony. If convicted, he faces up to 2.5 years in jail.
Greenwood police began investigating O’Neal after a victim came forward with sexual abuse allegations in January. The victim told police O’Neal had been inappropriate with her and asked her to do sexual acts to him since June 2021, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Johnson County Superior Court 2.
During the first incident, O’Neal had called the victim over to him to tell her he needed to be honest with her. O’Neal allegedly told the victim he liked her body and then fondled her. He then asked her to perform sexual acts on him, the affidavit says.
The victim told O’Neal she wouldn’t and attempted to walk away. O’Neal blocked her path and continued to try to convince her to perform sexual acts before he made her pinky promise not to tell anyone. The victim told police she did not tell because she was scared, according to the affidavit.
O’Neal then tried to get the victim to perform sexual acts on him four other times over the next few months, and the victim told police he tried to guilt her into doing the acts. In one incident, O’Neal and the victim were in the car together when he asked her to “help him out,” and when she refused, he got angry at her, the affidavit says.
Near the beginning of January, the victim told a third party about what had been happening. The victim and the third party told the third party’s mother, who called police. While the victim spoke with police, O’Neal showed up to the third party’s Southport home after tracking the victim through the Life 360 app, according to the affidavit.
O’Neal told Southport police he had arrived at the home because the victim had not returned to her residence on schedule. He had looked on the app to see where she was, the affidavit says.
Shortly after this conversation, O’Neal told police he had asked the victim for sexual favors. O’Neal told officers on the scene he knew it was not right and was not thinking clearly. O’Neal then left the Southport residence, and the victim stayed, the affidavit said.
O’Neal declined an interview with Greenwood police, the affidavit says.
O’Neal was arrested on a warrant Tuesday and taken to the Johnson County jail on a $1,000 bond. He paid his bond the same day and was released.
