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Lexington County Sheriff's Department detectives charged a 38-year-old Gaston man, a convicted sex offender, with performing sexual acts on two boys, who are now age 14 and age 17 respectively, on numerous occasions over a two-year period that ended in July 2008.

Sheriff James R. Metts said detectives arrested Scott Douglas Parker, 38, of 2914-B, Bachman Road, Gaston, on arrest warrants of five counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

Parker was being held without bond on Friday, January 16 at the Lexington County Detention Center.

The two boys whom Parker victimized were age 12 and age 14 respectively when Parker began sexually abusing the boys in July 2006, Metts said.

Parker bought gifts for the two boys and provided the two boys with money after Parker performed sexual acts on the boys on numerous occasions at his home and at a motel in Cayce. Parker was acquainted with the two boys.

Arrest warrants allege that Parker performed sexual acts on the two boys on at least 20 occasions between July 2006 and July 2008, Metts said.

The sexual abuse ended on July 28, 2008, when Parker was convicted in Lexington County of committing a lewd act on a child under the age of 16. That case was unrelated to the current case.

Parker registered with the Sheriff's Department as a convicted sex offender as required by South Carolina law, Metts said. Under South Carolina law, Parker is required to register with the Sheriff's Department as a convicted sex offender because of his July 28, 2008 conviction for committing a lewd act on a child under the age of 16.

The mother of the boy who is now 14 contacted the Sheriff's Department on January 9 and reported that Parker had sexually abused her son, Metts said. The boy told his mother about the sexual abuse on the same day that she contacted the Sheriff's Department.

Detectives arrested Parker on five counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor on Tuesday, January 13, Metts said. The sheriff said the case remains under investigation.

Metts asked anyone with information about additional instances in which Parker interacted inappropriately with children to call the Lexington County Sheriff's Department at (803) 785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.

Under South Carolina law, second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor is a felony that carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison, Metts said.