My name is Brittany Fortescue, and I am the mother of a child victim of sexual abuse here in South Carolina. I never imagined I would be forced into this fight, but the injustice my family has endured is proof that our laws and courts are failing children — and protecting predators instead.

The man who raped and molested my 9-year-old son was already out on bond for sexually abusing another child. Despite this, he was allowed to volunteer with children at our church — where he abused my son for over a year. Instead of facing the full weight of the law, prosecutors have offered him lenient plea deals that reduce serious charges of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor to lesser offenses, practically guaranteeing he will walk free again.

This is not an isolated incident. South Carolina’s sentencing and plea deal practices for crimes against children are alarmingly weak. In fact:

94–96% of child sexual abuse cases never go to trial because prosecutors are afraid juries won’t understand child trauma and delayed disclosure.
Only 4% of children ever falsely report abuse, yet defense attorneys are still allowed to dismantle their testimony and forensic interviews.
National statistics show that the majority of child predators are repeat offenders, and yet our state continues to give them second, third, and even fourth chances.

These numbers are not just national — they are real in South Carolina, as exposed through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) records. Case after case shows children being failed by the system.

We Demand Change.

We cannot allow our state to continue this culture of leniency. We demand:

Child sex crimes cannot be plead down — predators must face the original charges in court. 

Sentencing reform to ensure predators serve mandatory prison time with no early release.

Legislation requiring trauma-informed education for judges and juries, so they understand delayed disclosure and the realities of child victims.

True oversight and accountability for Solicitors’ Offices that mishandle or downplay these cases.

My son — and countless other children — deserve better than a system that protects predators over victims.

By signing this petition, you are standing with us to demand justice, reform, and protection for all children in South Carolina and across the nation.

The silence is over. It’s time to put an end to leniency for child predators.