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Barnes charged in trafficking ring Port Royal man extradited from Florida, at Beaufort County Detention Center By Mike McCombs and Delayna Earley The Island News A Port Royal man who escaped June 10 from the Jasper County Detention Center is now confined in the Beaufort County Detention Center and facing charges as the sixth person arrested in connection with a sex trafficking operation in Beaufort County. Jaquan Duvall Barnes, 29, of
Port Royal, was extradited back to South Carolina after his Sunday, July 7 arrest by Jacksonville, Fla., Sheriff’s deputies. Barnes According to a South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) news release Monday, July 15, confirming what sources previously told The
Island News, Barnes was charged Thursday, July 11 with one count of Trafficking In Persons, Victim Under 18 Years of Age, two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor – 2nd degree, two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor – 3nd degree, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and Unlawful Escape. He was booked July 12 into the Beaufort County Detention Center.
The charges, excluding the Unlawful Escape, came from warrants obtained June 6 by SLED investigator Logan B. Fey and signed by Beaufort County Magistrate Richard Brooks, which were to be served Tuesday, June 11, according to sources, the same day that law enforcement raided several homes and made five other arrests related to the sex trafficking operation.
The total number of warrants served so far that were issued by Brooks on June 6 comes to 13. Barnes was being held at the Jasper County Detention Center following a March 5 arrest when he reportedly ran from police during a traffic stop. He was initially stopped in a car with an underage girl who had
SEE RING PAGE A3
2024 WATER FESTIVAL
Port Royal Police Chief Alan Beach stands for a portrait outside of the Port Royal Police Department on July 15, 2024, in Port Royal. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Port Royal Police Chief to retire in September By Delayna Earley The Island News Port Royal is on the hunt for a new Chief of Police. Chief Alan Beach, who was hired to the position in 2012, has decided to retire in September. Beach was born and raised in Beaufort County, and he began his career as a Beaufort firefighter in 1985 and then joined the Port Royal Police Department in 1987. “I started out through the ranks. I left the Beaufort City Fire Department and came to Port Royal; at the time we were Public Safety. I love the fire department and I’ve always wanted to be in law enforcement, so it was the best of both worlds, you would think,” Beach said about his start with the Port Royal Police Department. “Back in the day, we were Public Safety, so we actually carried our gear around in the trunk of our police cars, so when we had a fire, we would take off the police hat and put on the firefighter’s hat.” He said that eventually the City of Beaufort volunteered to add Port Royal to their fire services, so Port Royal Police could just focus on being police officers, which he said made better sense, but he still loved firefighting. Beach said he did stay on with the Beaufort Fire Department as a
SEE CHIEF PAGE A4
Crowd members wait as HunterGirl takes the stage during the Concert in the Park during the 68th Annual Beaufort Water on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort. Delayna Earley/The Island News
Festival fever
68th annual event kicks off to a hot and wet start By Delayna Earley fort despite a rain delay that lastand Amber Hewitt ed just longer INSIDE The Island News than an hour. The 68th annual Beaufort WaWhile the Photos from Opening ter Festival is warmed up and at rain dampened Night, Concert full speed as it makes its way tothe grass and in the Park, ward its second and final weekend the stage, spirRaft Races, and more, for 2024. its were high Page A8 On opening night Friday, July when the gates 12, the Water Festival drew a opened, and crowd to Henry C. Chambers Wa- the program was able to continue terfront Park in downtown Beau- as planned.
The announcement to postpone opening the event was made on Facebook, and many would-be-festivalgoers took to social media to joke about how it would not be a typical Water Festival without rain delays. The opening ceremony kicked off the annual 10-day festival by recognizing Commodore Josh
SEE FESTIVAL PAGE A8
303 Associates files motion to compel in lawsuit against Trasks
By Scott Graber The Island News For more than a year, litigation has been ongoing between 303 Associates and George Trask, Graham Trask, the Beautiful Beaufort Alliance and the Trask’s related businesses. Finally, there
may be some movement. During the past year, we have seen 303’s complaint; the Trasks’ answers to the complaint; but not much more. Readers may remember the 303 complaint was filed in July of last year, and that George and Graham Trask filed their re-
sponses in November, 2023. The 303 complaint is lengthy, alleging conspiracy, abuse of process and tortious interference with a prospective contract among other items. The Plaintiff asks for a jury trial and for damages, both actual and punitive.
The complaint itself contains excerpts from numerous e-mails that flowed between certain parties and e-mails to or from the Historic Beaufort Foundation. In addition to the e-mails, the Plaintiff
SEE COMPEL PAGE A4
SPORTS
VOICES
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INSIDE
NCAA Division II approves USC Beaufort for 3rd provisional year.
Carol Lucas: “I will never advocate violence.”
Blue Angels select officers for 2025 Show Season including Beaufort Marine.
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