Loris man charged with misdemeanor in Conway toddler’s death
A 3-year-old child was killed Wednesday and a man is charged in the incident.
Kevin James, 30, of Loris is charged with driving under suspension, according to Cpl. Sonny Collins with the S.C. Highway Patrol. More charges could be possible, Collins said, but only the suspension is listed as of Friday.
Joe Gause, 3, of Conway was pronounced dead at McLeod Loris hospital at 7:04 p.m. Wednesday, according to Horry County Deputy Coroner Tony Hendrick. Gause died of multiple head trauma, Hendrick said.
The deadly crash happened about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on Ocala Lane when the 30-year-old driver of the Chevrolet Tahoe hit Gause — who was in the roadway — while backing out of a private drive, according to Highway Patrol officials.
James wasn’t injured in the crash, and the incident remains under investigation by the SCHP, Collins said.
James is a registered Adult Tier III sex offender registered in South Carolina, according to records from the State Law Enforcement Division. He was charged with criminal sexual misconduct with a minor under 11 in 2006, and sentenced to five years in prison in 2007. That sentence was reduced to one year in prison and 18 months probation, according to SLED records.
James has been charged with several misdemeanors since 2010, including harassment and driving under suspension. He was charged with eight misdemeanors on October 29, 2011, including: use of a vehicle without permission; open container; petty larceny; and failure to stop for blue lights.
SLED records show James was twice charged with violating his sex offender status by not registering. He was sentenced to four months at J. Reuben Long Detention Center in 2014 for those charges.
In 2011, James was charged with malicious injury to personal property. In 2013 he was charged with 2nd degree assault and battery, according to SLED records.
Claire Byun: 843-626-0381, @Claire_TSN
This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 2:30 PM with the headline "Loris man charged with misdemeanor in Conway toddler’s death."