News Release: Man Arrested After Following Child Into Restaurant Restroom and Assaulting Her
- Deputy Jamie Burton
- Apr 14
- 2 min read
04/14/26
Richland County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrested a man Monday evening (4/13/26) after he followed a young girl, between the ages of 9 and 11 years old, into a restroom at a local restaurant and sexually assaulted her.
On April 13, 2026, around 7:00 p.m., deputies responded to a restaurant at the 2600 block of Decker Boulevard in reference to a suspicious person. When deputies arrived, the restaurant owner provided surveillance footage showing an adult male, later identified as James McKenzie, follow a female child into the women’s restroom. The child was at the restaurant eating with her family.
Surveillance footage shows McKenzie watching the child before entering the restroom behind her. Once inside, McKenzie sexually assaulted the child. Less than two minutes later, surveillance footage shows McKenzie leaving the restroom area and quickly exiting the restaurant carrying the restaurant's drink cup.
Using the direction of travel provided by the restaurant owner, deputies located McKenzie hiding in bushes behind an abandoned building on Decker Boulevard. McKenzie was wearing the same clothing seen in the surveillance footage and was still in possession of the restaurant cup. McKenzie was taken into custody; a short time later, he confessed to the incident.
McKenzie has prior arrests in Florida, Orangeburg County, SC, and the City of Columbia, SC, for similar offenses, including indecent exposure. While detained for interviewing, investigators observed McKenzie engage in lewd behavior.
McKenzie is charged with Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Kidnapping, and Indecent Exposure. He was transported to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center and was denied bond.
If you recognize McKenzie and believe you may have been victimized by him, please call RCSD at (803) 576-3000.
