CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – Four people who Horry County police say raped two 4-year-old children appeared in court Friday.
The children told authorities they were forced to engage in sexual acts with other siblings, each other and with these four adults. Authorities say some of the sexual assaults happened at Chez Joey, a strip club in Myrtle Beach.
Lindsey Honeycutt and Ambrose Heavener face charges that include criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
Panteleimon Spirakis and Anthony Strickland’s charges include criminal sexual conduct with a minor and engaging a child for sexual performance. Spirakis waved his right to appear in front of a magistrate judge, the three others appeared at J. Rueben Long Detention Center.
The solicitors office requested bond be denied for the four adults being charged.
“Due to the nature of their charges, criminal sexual conduct in the first degree, just such a heinous charge,” said Assistant Solicitor Seth Oskin.
Spirakis was seen in court but was removed before appearing before the judge.
“Defendants can do that for a multitude of reasons. I don’t want to get further into that at this time with respect for all parties,” said Oskin.
Spirakis does have a criminal sexual conduct conviction on his record.
Strickland made his appearance just after 3:30 p.m. Friday, along with Honeycutt and Heavener, who could be seen sharing glances through plexiglass windows.
All three who appeared before the judge declared their innocence, without any prompting by the court.
News13 reached out to the solicitors office to see if they would try to shut down Chez Joey as a public nuisance.
Solicitor Jimmy Richardson says the office was contacted on Thursday about the business being a public nuisance and will decide whether or not to send an abatement letter, which would start the civil proceedings.
Next up for the four defendants is an appearance before a Circuit Court judge, which could still be months away.
