YORK COUNTY, S.C. — A former hospital security officer at Piedmont Medical Center is in jail, charged with having sex with a 16-year-old patient who he met while on duty.
Otis Smith, 57, was charged Saturday with third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Rock Hill police said the incident happened June 3 or July 1, and it was reported almost immediately.
"Eventually her mother found out, and it was her mother who contacted us about the situation," police Capt. Mark Bollinger said.
This was lengthy investigation, and Smith was just arrested and charged this weekend.
PMC says Otis Smith, 57, was fired as soon as the hospital learned of the incident, which police say happened at Smith's home, not PMC.
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Police said Smith met the girl a few doors down from her house in Clover, picked her up and drove her to his apartment at Wildwood Springs on Springdale Road in Rock Hill.
The accuser told police Smith gave her some kind of medication to calm her down, and then had sex with her.
Warrants allege that Smith knew the girl was mentally ill when he had sex with her.
Then, police said, Smith drove the girl to a mall in Charlotte, gave her money and cigarettes and left her there.
The contributing charge stems from the information that shows Smith helped the teen run away from home.
Piedmont Medical Center sent Channel 9 a statement Monday afternoon that says in part:
"Immediately upon notification of this alleged off campus incident involving an employee of the firm contracted to provide security services for the hospital, appropriate steps were taken by his employer to relieve him of his duties. He will not be allowed to return to the hospital campus."
Citing federal privacy laws, the hospital could not comment on how Smith and the patient came in contact with each other there.
Smith is being held on a $60,000 bond. His mother told Channel 9 that she doesn't believe he's guilty, and said the truth will come out.
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