MOUNT PLEASANT — The son of a South Carolina congressional candidate was arrested three months after being accused of brutally beating one of his classmates to the point the other teen suffered at least four seizures and had to be hospitalized.
Brooks Hampton Templeton, the 18-year-old son of Republican congressional candidate Catherine Templeton, allegedly returned to a house party in Mount Pleasant after the January fight and declared that he "needed to call his lawyer," according to an arrest affidavit released by Charleston County courts April 18.
Templeton is charged with first-degree assault and battery, a felony offense that carries up to 10 years in prison. Templeton's victim is not named in the affidavit but is identified as a juvenile male.
The Post and Courier has asked for a copy of the incident report from the Mount Pleasant Police Department, which the agency had not provided as of April 18 after multiple requests.
But the April 9 arrest affidavit reveals for the first time the extent of the alleged assault that took place on the night of Jan. 12 following an argument during a house party with underage drinking.
According to the affidavit sworn by a Mount Pleasant police officer, the house party happened on Haddrell Street, not far from the Shem Creek bar district. That's where witnesses claim Templeton and his fellow classmate got into a verbal argument.
According to the court document, the episode played out this way:
Templeton asked the juvenile to leave even though it was not Templeton's house; the residence belonged to the family of a mutual friend. The victim and several juvenile friends then left.
As he was walking down the front steps of the home, one of Templeton's friends — witnesses said they didn't know who it was — pulled the young man down. Then Templeton got involved. Templeton allegedly shoved his victim to "provoke an altercation" in front of the house.
The two friend groups were then temporarily separated. But the confrontation continued as as the young man and his friends were walking down the street to their vehicle. Templeton returned to confront his victim, according to several witnesses, including two who were identified in the report as being sober.
That's when Templeton reportedly hit his victim and knocked him to the ground. Templeton then repeatedly struck his classmate in the head numerous times, according to the affidavit.
The victim was reportedly unable to defend himself and the fight resulted in severe bruising and swelling, contusions and black eyes. The affidavit goes on to say he suffered from at least four seizures that evening, which required hospitalization.
Four different witnesses identified Templeton as the primary aggressor, the affidavit states.
Templeton was booked into the Charleston County jail after his arrest April 16. He spent about 4½ hours in custody before being released on a $30,000 surety bond.
As part of his bail conditions, Templeton cannot have any contact with the victim nor any family members of the victim verbally, electronically, by phone or on social media, according to court records.
The arrest has also cost him his job working as a field representative on his mother's congressional campaign, The Post and Courier has learned.
The Templeton campaign declined to discuss the arrest, and an aide directed the newspaper to a previous comment which referred to the incident as "a high school fight."
Catherine Templeton is challenging U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace for the GOP congressional nomination in the state's coastal 1st District.
Court documents obtained by The Post and Courier show Lowcountry trial attorney Shaun Kent has been retained to represent the teenaged Templeton.
His first court appearance is scheduled for June 7 — four days before the June 11 Republican primary.
This is the second time in recent months the teenager has been arrested for aggressive behavior. In September he was charged in a road rage incident with pointing and presenting a firearm stemming from an altercation with another driver in Mount Pleasant.
Templeton admitted to his actions but 9th Circuit Assistant Solicitor Joseph Guerriero dismissed the case, stating there was insufficient evidence to convict.
