by ERIN PARROTT
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A former leader of students at a South Carolina military academy is facing additional criminal charges following an investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted a minor more than a decade ago.
The S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced on Friday (October 30, 2026) that 55-year-old John Anthony Heflin, a former dean of students at Camden Military Academy in Kershaw County, had been arrested and charged with second degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor under the age of 16 and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
According to arrest warrants accompanying the release, the allegations stem from incidents that occurred between July 1 and July 31, 2014, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Investigators allege Heflin – who was employed as a teacher at Camden Military Academy at the time – sexually assaulted a 14-year-old juvenile while the victim was asleep.
The warrant states the alleged assault involved sexual battery and that the victim was awakened by the defendant’s actions.
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A separate arrest warrant alleges Heflin provided the same 14-year-old juvenile with alcoholic beverages – including beer and liquor – during the same month in Myrtle Beach.
Both warrants identified Heflin as a teacher at Camden Military Academy at the time of the alleged offenses.
The investigation was conducted by SLED at the request of the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO).
Heflin was booked into the J. Reuben Long detention center in Horry County, where he awaits prosecution by the S.C. Fifteenth Circuit solicitor’s office.
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PREVIOUS ARRESTS AND ALLEGATIONS
Thursday’s arrest marks the latest development in a criminal investigation involving Heflin, who previously served as a member of town council in Bethune, S.C. As FITSNews first reported in September 2024, Heflin was arrested and charged with criminal solicitation of a minor following allegations involving a cadet at Camden Military Academy.
According to the original arrest affidavit, Heflin allegedly persuaded a juvenile victim to send him an explicit photograph through Snapchat in September 2024.
Investigators alleged Heflin had engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the cadet dating back to 2022.
In July 2025, FITSNews reported additional charges against Heflin, including disseminating harmful material to a minor, second degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, third degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
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RELATED | CHARGES FILED AGAINST FORMER MILITARY SCHOOL LEADER
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Those allegations involved multiple incidents dating back to 2014, including accusations of forced sexual intercourse with a juvenile student, providing alcohol and pornographic material to a minor, and inappropriate sexual contact with another juvenile during the spring semester of 2022.
According to the 2025 arrest affidavits, a now-adult victim provided investigators with details of the alleged assaults during an interview with SLED agents.
The latest warrants described alleged conduct during the same period addressed in the July 2025 charges. However, SLED’s October 30, 2026 release did not clarify whether the latest charges concerned the same alleged incidents or victims, or how they relate procedurally to the previously filed charges.
As with anyone accused of committing a crime, Heflin is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
FITSNews will continue monitoring this case and provide updates as additional information becomes available.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Erin Parrott is a Greenville, S.C. native who graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2025 with a bachelor degree in broadcast journalism. Got feedback or a tip for Erin? Email her here.
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