Private Chelsea Rhea Lance, plead guilty to Felony Charges Unlawful conduct toward a child in April 2022, she was arrested April 29th, 2021, after the charges were brought by Berkeley County Sheriffs. Chelsea joined the South Carolina National Guard just a year prior to abusing my two-year-old son.  I am a Veteran, I take pride in serving my country, I also have had many brothers and sisters in Arms who have died in the line of duty for our great nation. It is because of our fallen brothers and sisters in service to our Country that allowing Private Chelsea Rhea to continue to serve after what she did to my son is not only disrespectful to me as a VETERAN but a clear smack in the face as the FATHER TO THE VICTIM. As a combat medic (MOS 68W) her duty is to serve those in need, help fallen soldiers and civilians during disasters and times of need, yet as a MOTHER her first priority should have been her children, yet she failed her own flesh and blood by beating him black and blue and has since PLEAD GUILTY to the charges. How can someone on the Central Registry for Abuse and Neglect, a convicted FELON of abuse and neglect of her own son be allowed and trusted with such high responsibility's that a Combat Medic is tasked with continue to serve our State and Nation? As a Veteran I know when someone faces a Dishonorable Discharge and UCMJ action is taken that they can and usually are removed from service within 45 days, yet we are now almost 90 days from the day she PLEAD GUILTY, April 12th 2022. Every month that she is allowed to stay in UNIFORM and call herself a Veteran or member of our great Military does our Nation a disservice and disrespects those who put on that uniform with her currently, those who have worn it prior to her and those who have DIED FOR OUR NATION!  Please read the story of the abuse that my son has endured and after just this small statement if you believe she should be Dishonorably Discharged from the South Carolina National Guard sign and share the petition.

Once she is removed with a Dishonorable Discharge, I will feel that the South Carolina National Guard does in fact care about Soldiers Families and Children most importantly. Her removal will bring my son some of the JUSTICE THAT HE DESERVES but has yet to receive. 

In April 2021 my 2-year-old son was with his mother, Chelsea Rhea for her scheduled visitation, when she dropped him off at daycare Monday morning the day care called me and the local police department to come to the daycare immediately. I arrived before officers and the teacher for my son's class told me to take a look at my son's rear end and buttocks. Words cannot describe what I saw or felt at that moment. I took his shorts off and noticed something discolored on his legs, I was told to check under his diaper. That is when I lost it and began crying, the bruising on his legs were so bad his entire buttocks, both cheeks were covered in black and blue marks, down the sides of his legs were also covered in black and blue marks. You could clearly see fingerprints from where she hit him or squeezed his leg so tightly while she beat him. What I saw before I took his diaper off wasn't dirt, but it was black bruises on his legs, he was beaten like no child should ever be. So much so that it hurt him to sit down on a padded floor with his diaper on. The pain and bruising stayed on him for weeks. Since he is so young the mental side effects from his abuse and torture that he endured from his mother Private Chelsea Rhea is fully unknown at this time. For months he was afraid of women who looked like his mother, brown hair and overall, he was petrified of any woman. 

The medical doctors noted that he must have been beaten often over the course of a few days because the extent of his bruises and the different color and shades of the bruising. They also noted that based on the patterns of the bruises that my son clinched his body as he anticipated each blow so he would tighten up to try and absorb it to lessen the pain. 

As I stated above Chelsea Rhea plead guilty to the Felony Charges, specifically the Code of Laws listed below. Meanwhile because of the wording of the law is poorly written and there is no actual law that states ABUSE as the prosecutor put it to me, they offered her a deal. She was able PLEAD GUILTY and walk away with 5 YEARS PROBATION, with some extensive psych evaluations and classes added to her terms. 

This is hardly JUSTICE FOR MY SON, she was also placed on the CENTRAL REGISTRY FOR ABUSE AND NEGLECCT by the Department of Social Services and they found the case INDICATED. 

SECTION 63-5-70. Unlawful conduct toward a child.

(A) It is unlawful for a person who has charge or custody of a child, or who is the parent or guardian of a child, or who is responsible for the welfare of a child as defined in Section 63-7-20 to:

(1) place the child at unreasonable risk of harm affecting the child's life, physical or mental health, or safety;

(2) do or cause to be done unlawfully or maliciously any bodily harm to the child so that the life or health of the child is endangered or likely to be endangered; or

(3) wilfully abandon the child.

(B) A person who violates subsection (A) is guilty of a felony and for each offense, upon conviction, must be fined in the discretion of the court or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE THIS PETITION TO HAVE PRIVATE CHELSEA LANCE RHEA OR CHELSEA LANCE REMOVED FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD.