Baptist school teacher accused of soliciting sex from student

The Post and Courier
Thursday, July 2, 2009


photo

Charles "DJ" Fishburne Rhodes III

A First Baptist Church School teacher is accused of soliciting a 12-year-old student for sex.

Charleston County Sheriff's investigators charged Charles "DJ" Fishburne Rhodes III of Charleston with criminal solicitation of a minor.

An affidavit says the victim told investigators that Rhodes began text messaging her on her cell phone after school let out for the summer.

The two talked through texts for about two to three weeks when Rhodes wrote and asked her to "come over." One text asked her to perform oral sex on him, the affidavit says.

Rhodes waived his rights and admitted in a statement that he engaged in the sexual conversation with the student, the affidavit says.

Check back with http://postandcourier.com for more details. Reach Andy Paras at 937-5589 or aparas@postandcourier.com

Share this story:
E-mail this story E-mail this story  Printer-friendly version Printer-friendly version  

Copy and paste the link:

Comments

vmirat90 (anonymous) says...

hmmm. I am waiting once again for the..."I have sinned!" moment.

Gotta love it.

July 2, 2009 at 10:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

wellinformed (anonymous) says...

That scares me that a 12 year old wouldn't tell her parents immediately that a much older man is texting her and that she waited until he got sexual to tell! I guess I should be glad that she did tell and it didn't get past the stage of just suggestion! Disgusting!!!!!!

July 2, 2009 at 10:52 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

onesidedsquare (anonymous) says...

He must be a Atheists in disguise cause we all know them Atheists are the real immoral devils worshipers

July 2, 2009 at 10:55 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

vmirat90 (anonymous) says...

I really hope that is a joke, one.

And no, some of us non zealots don't worship the devil- that takes too much work. We believe in having a good time, unlike the bible thumpers out there.

July 2, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Luna (anonymous) says...

OK, I can see where the first text contacts from a known adult would not raise any red flags for the girl, and we have to give her support for telling her parents when DJ went to the dark side.

Once he pleads out or is convicted, one can hope that the jailers let it be known what he did; Honor Among Thieves will take care of him.

one side - if you are an Atheist you do not worship the devil, silly rabbit, you don't worship anything. If you are going to make derogatory remarks at least get them correct.

July 2, 2009 at 11:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

vmirat90 (anonymous) says...

he's probably one of those snake handlers....

July 2, 2009 at 11:37 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justsayin (anonymous) says...

I think being an atheist is not believing in God, it is agnostic that believes in nothing. and i think it is satanism that worships the devil. just sayin'

P.S. If people think sending their children to a christian school is protecting them from anything, they are wasting their money.

July 2, 2009 at 11:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justsayin (anonymous) says...

I bet he "sangs" songs in the choir on sunday and is also a youth minister that seems to always be single, but just really cares about children and the lord..... just sayin'

July 2, 2009 at 11:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

vmirat90 (anonymous) says...

indeed, just. I hear of all these "pastors" around. Do you know how easy it is to become one? One of my good friends from college does a comedy routine where he dresses up like Elvis, and he is called Reverend Dave. He mailed off a coupon from the back of Rolling Stone, and now he is a reverend.

July 2, 2009 at 11:46 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

vmirat90 (anonymous) says...

LOL charleston....no custody for you, young grasshopper....wife will be kickin' you da curb.

July 2, 2009 at 11:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Luna (anonymous) says...

Atheism can be either the rejection of theism,[1] or the assertion that deities do not exist.[2] In the broadest sense, it is the absence of belief in the existence of deities.[3]

Deities being gods....which I'm not sure about, but isn't that what the devil is? Agnosthic has always been "I don't know" if there is a god. (to me anyway).

Swarmy people come in every size, color, religious persation, political flavor.....

July 2, 2009 at 11:55 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mej5614 (anonymous) says...

Hm. The people who harm children get it the worst in jail. There's something for him to look foward to.

July 2, 2009 at 11:57 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

vmirat90 (anonymous) says...

I wonder if "DJ" is his side profession....word!

July 2, 2009 at 11:59 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Luna (anonymous) says...

I swear I spell checked.....doh!

July 2, 2009 at 12:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kb8080 (anonymous) says...

Actually agnostic means you just don't feel you have enough proof/information to say whether God exists or not (from the Greek "gnosis" = to know and the prefix "a" which means not. Atheist is also from the Greek "a" plus "theos" whichg means God). I think the group you want that believe in nothing are nihilists (a la The Big Lebowski). Has nothing to do with the scunbag from the article, but I just had to put my linguistics knowledge to work somehow!

July 2, 2009 at 12:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Luna (anonymous) says...

kb - thanks!

July 2, 2009 at 12:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

vmirat90 (anonymous) says...

kb...the perp from this article believe in something alright....he believes in gettin' busy with 12 year old girls!

July 2, 2009 at 12:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

SpongeMunkie (anonymous) says...

Ok... why weren't her parents monitoring what was on her cell phone? Even if she was smart enough to immediately erase the messages, they still would have seen his number on the bill. She's 12 years old. She doesn't have a right to privacy like that. If parents paid more attention to what their kids are doing an who they are talking to online and on their cells, there would probably be a whole lot less of this type of crap going on. And the perp.... he deserves everything that's coming to him. Disgusting.

July 2, 2009 at 1:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Luna (anonymous) says...

Soliciting! Means no contact happened because the girl probably told want he wrote.

Sounds like the parents did a good job.

Dude will get his and ssssoooo much more in jail.

July 2, 2009 at 1:40 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ClmsnGrl (anonymous) says...

I want to know how he got her cell phone numbers? When I was in school none of my teachers had my cell phone number just our HOME number. But that was to contact PARENTS not children.

July 2, 2009 at 1:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Luna (anonymous) says...

Several teachers send text message reminders about homework and tests.

July 2, 2009 at 1:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tadpole (anonymous) says...

Was'nt he the baseball coach, must be the last inning with 2 balls and 1 strike! Did they ever figure out who killed that other teacher that worked there and was found in his car?

July 2, 2009 at 1:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

omarro1974 (anonymous) says...

Moonpie!............haroldreems!..............chicago thug!.....where are you?

July 2, 2009 at 2:18 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ClmsnGrl (anonymous) says...

tadpole I dont think they ever found out. He was one of my teachers and a great man he was. That was a tragedy!

July 2, 2009 at 2:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

vmirat90 (anonymous) says...

chicago thug is the only one that I miss talking to. I can definitely do without the other two.

July 2, 2009 at 2:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hellurrr (anonymous) says...

okay first of all none of you people actually knew DJ, so if you could stop talking about him like that, it would be great.

second, DJ was NOT a bad person, he was actually really nice and even nice people make mistakes. Good people are the ones that fall the hardest, but he doesnt deserve this. I knew him pretty well and he was the kind of person who liked to joke around and have a good time and that is the way I would like to remember him since he will not be at school any more. So if you all could keep your rude and hatefull comments to yourself, that'd be great, thanks.

and now that Im done defending him, I would also like to say that Mr. Harris (the one who was shot) was also my teacher, and he was a horrible day when we found out he had been killed. He is still missed on the campus. and incedentally, DJ was hired to replace Mr. Harris.

=]

July 2, 2009 at 3:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

CNN_10 (anonymous) says...

What a loser

July 2, 2009 at 3:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Bluebird63 (anonymous) says...

Wow..D.J. was the replacement for Mr. Harris. Maybe by the looks of the luck of being in that position it should not be replaced any more..
Hellur..have you not heard that petifiles are very personable and lovely on the outside, it is when you get to the defiled inside that you find them full of rotten goo..So letting him still fool you with his delightful personality, is kind of sad on your part.
Not that I don't believe that people make mistakes, I do believe that can happen. But he admits to this travesty and it was a twelve year old. So, if he is guilty, at least, he needs lots of help.

July 2, 2009 at 3:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

vmirat90 (anonymous) says...

sorry hell...he is married, expecting a child, and tried to have oral sex with a 12 year old. That makes him the king of the losers in my eyes (and I would venture to say most peoples eyes that post here).

Also, the fact that you are defending him says an awful alot about your character (or lack thereof).

.

July 2, 2009 at 3:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

GermanyXO (anonymous) says...

So does this mean pedophiles are now hiding in Baptist churches? I wonder how many lawsuits will begin to surface now that this case is out in the open. I believe we deserve a response from a governing body overseeing Baptist churches.

July 2, 2009 at 3:52 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

studley (anonymous) says...

Sounds like he crossed the line but did not have sex. Where have I heard that before?

July 2, 2009 at 4:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

studley (anonymous) says...

Hellurr: really nice people are not, repeat are not, pedophiles.

July 2, 2009 at 4:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

vmirat90 (anonymous) says...

they want you to think they're nice...it's called grooming.

July 2, 2009 at 4:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hellurrr (anonymous) says...

bluebird: thankyou for not completely trying to cut me down because I want to believe the best in someone =]

but umm yea I would love for ya'll to have met the man first, and then be able to say these things about him. people screw up, point blank. and my character is not the one that is in question, thankyou.

and the reason I am defending him is because I actually know him. not just because I have seen him around and he seemed like an okay guy, but because he genuinely is.

and about him being guilty, nothing ever happened, so that has to count for something. and yall have to understand that nothing actually ever would have either.

July 2, 2009 at 5:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hellurrr (anonymous) says...

and vmirat90: what exactly is it that you are trying to say about my character..? hmm??

July 2, 2009 at 5:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

palmettostate (anonymous) says...

Look at the bright side, at least he was not texting to young boys. I wonder whether being non-Catholic has something to do with it.

July 2, 2009 at 6:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Nychee (anonymous) says...

nothing personal, but ...

"and yall have to understand that nothing actually ever would have either."

... only two people people could possibly know the answer to that. makes you wonder.

July 2, 2009 at 6:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seneca264 (anonymous) says...

The pervert should be burned at the stake if it turns out he is guilty.

July 2, 2009 at 6:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

studley (anonymous) says...

seneca264 Before or after he is castrated?

July 2, 2009 at 6:59 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lovely_One (anonymous) says...

hellurr, I met this one guy first and that didn't make him less of a jerk when he crossed the line with not one child, but three children that we know of.

I have said before, just because a person was nice in some instances doesn't mean they are all good.

And the absence of moonpie, harold, and the rest (are here on Gil...lol) is very noticeable. Their silence is DEAFENING!!!

July 2, 2009 at 8:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

vampire (anonymous) says...

I know the family and DJ. He is nice but he does the things he was reported as doing to more than just that one minor. He is a sheep in wolf clothing. It is sick and disgusting him preying on young girls. His wife is expecting and works at the school also. This is not the first teacher at this school. Coach Vail was let go a few years ago. Beware of them young, male teachers and coaches. Does the school even do a background check? Beware of the Rhodes males. They do perverted things. They should lock him up for good! Yes, everyone makes mistakes but this isn't the first instance. They need to throw away the key!

July 2, 2009 at 8:42 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chicago_Thug (anonymous) says...

Posted by omarro1974 on July 2, 2009 at 2:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Moonpie!............haroldreems!..............chicago thug!.....where are you?
------------------------------------------------

Posted by vmirat90 on July 2, 2009 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

chicago thug is the only one that I miss talking to. I can definitely do without the other two.
**************

LOL, I am here omarro1974, just returned from Florida (girlfriend...)!

Thanks VMI!

This guy, if found guilty or pleads out, will not last long in prison. He is the lowest of the low. There are sick and twisted freaks everywhere, but it is the most despicable scum that are first; professing to be religious and second; a teacher in position of authority over kids.

There are still millions of christians that are law abiding, caring people that live their lives day in and day out.

The amazing thing is those that take such joy in the fact that a deviant is also a supposed christian.

What about this twisted sick person;

'News coverage of a Duke University official accused of raping his adopted 5-year-old son and offering the child to someone else is apparently lacking what some say is a key piece of information: the fact the alleged perpetrator is a homosexual who lives with another "gay" man.'?

Where is the media attention?

http://media.mgnetwork.com/ncn/pdf/09...

omarro1974???????????

July 2, 2009 at 8:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

omarro1974 (anonymous) says...

Glad you could make it.

July 2, 2009 at 9:48 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chicago_Thug (anonymous) says...

no problem omarro.

July 2, 2009 at 9:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

moonpie (anonymous) says...

scum bag dirt ball.

whats this guys name again, omarro rhodes?

July 2, 2009 at 9:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chicago_Thug (anonymous) says...

moonpie, whats your deal?

July 2, 2009 at 9:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

omarro1974 (anonymous) says...

Your attempt at humor impresses me.

I'm going to leave you alone. You're not smart enough to argue with.

July 2, 2009 at 10:04 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chicago_Thug (anonymous) says...

omarro me are moonpie?

July 2, 2009 at 10:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

omarro1974 (anonymous) says...

Some redundant dunce sprattled:

scum bag dirt ball.

whats this guys name again, omarro rhodes?
____________________________________________________________________
What a clever post!

If my name is omarro rhodes, what does that make you? Wait, let me guess: A 300 lb White cheeseburger, sitting in his Aunt's basement, drinking King Cobra because it was 6 for $4 this week.

Truthfully, I think that's what's really bothering you...the deep-seated essence of your malcontent racism.... You are so utterly transparent, petty, and stupid that it astounds me in a new way every time I read one of your posts. You don't even need a moniker, Moonie.......we already know it's you, just by the self-hating writing style. There is only a few of you Finooks on here that post the same racist garbage all day, every day anyway....easy to spot.

Moonie, I cannot stress this enough...no matter how bad Black kids/neighborhoods/eating habits/culture/music/ways may be....at least they have a soul.

You have....absolutely nothing. No demeaning qualities whatsoever. And no excuses for it.

You simply have nothing of relevance to say, but like most ignorant inbreds, you just have to say something. Ergo, you project your racist thoughts onto some skeezoid Carolinian Politician, because he has the balls and privilege to make stupid statements you can't work up the froth to say yourself.

How pathetic is that?

July 2, 2009 at 10:18 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

stono10 (anonymous) says...

welcome back to charleston coach darnell, first baptists sorry baseball team is waiting for you.

July 2, 2009 at 10:25 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chicago_Thug (anonymous) says...

omarro, moonpie aint worth the keystrokes

night.

July 2, 2009 at 10:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

vmirat90 (anonymous) says...

hell...I hate to call you out, but if you depend this guy, first of all, you are a moron. Secondly yes...I stand by what I said, even though your attempt at an insult at me made no sense. If you defend this total loser, then guess what...you fall in the same category.

Apparently you completely disregarded what I said..or you are stupid. Which one is it? I made the statement that since this jackass is married, his wife is expecting, and he works at a parochial school...and he is trying to get laid with a 12 yr old...what part of total douchebag do you not understand. Clean your ears out. It is either that, or you are just plain stupid.

July 2, 2009 at 11:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tadpole (anonymous) says...

hellurr- since you are defending him so much about how good of a man is --did you recieve his email stating he was leaving first baptist to join the family business and his very sick father about 2 weeks ago. His bond conditions are staying away from the victims family and first baptist as well as anyone underage with the exception of his newborn. Just think of how his wife must feel when you defend him.

July 3, 2009 at 12:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lovely_One (anonymous) says...

LOL, moonpie, your post speaks volumes. I will have fun *itch slapping you from here on out. At least harold was smart enough not to show up!!!! Such an idiot, you are!!!

July 3, 2009 at 8:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

hellurrr (anonymous) says...

actually I didn't get that e-mail. he told me himself thankyou verymuch.

and I do feel very bad for Fran, and the baby that is going to be born into all of this mess.

and no I'm not stupid, I'm actually one of the smartest students in my class, I just don't want to hear all this crap about someone that I believe was a good person and you don't even know him and you're sitting here talking crap about him

July 4, 2009 at 11:02 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

vball (anonymous) says...

i just want to say i am sooooo honored that everyone spends their free time talking about our coach..it really is quite flattering.

keep it up! hahaha.

July 4, 2009 at 11:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

fersure (anonymous) says...

hellurrr & vball:

hi. obviously yall new DJ Rhodes, and THOUGHT he was a great guy, but umm... yeah i was in his class for a couple years and i know for a fact he was a total douche, and a perv. And how can you say that just because nothing ever really happened that its all of a sudden okay. he asked a 12 year old girl to come to his house and give him head. Fran is pretty good looking in my opinion. and he has a kid on the way. that kids life is ruined. he/she is going grow up and at some point find out that their dad is a petefile. gonestly im totally disgusted. its people like him that give christians a bad name.

July 4, 2009 at 9:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fersure (anonymous) says...

should have spell checked..oops.

July 4, 2009 at 9:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tadpole (anonymous) says...

hellrrr i hope you will come back to read this response but my son played baseball at st andrews playground with the boy's as well as dusty and the charleston storm so if you know anything about him you will know i must know them pretty good because baseball has always been their life so stop saying NO ONE KNOWS THEM all of west ashley knows them!

July 6, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jkwhitehouse (anonymous) says...

The disgust we feel in this teacher's actions is perfectly understandable. The vitriolic rhetoric is not. There is a God in Heaven who sees into all our hearts. Not one of us is without ungodly thoughts and desires. God's disgust at what he knows is in all our hearts is called wrath, and we are all deserving of it. May this horrible incident cause us all to search our own hearts and seek God's forgiveness through repentance and faith in the One who was willing to die on a cross for "the vilest offenders". Yes, God is angry with this man's sin. But there is forgiveness. For him and for us (Romans 3).

July 7, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Mom2MGandE (anonymous) says...

This is a tragic situation. I knew DJ and his entire family since he was a youth. If he is guilty- which he apparently has admitted that he is- the people I feel most sorry for are the families affected by this. The victim and her family, for I'm sure she'll never be the same. And I will pray for DJ's family as they are going through a lot. His father is ill and this "indiscretion" on DJ's part will not make it any easier for him to recover. I feel for DJ's wife. There will be a stigma that follows him (and her) for the rest of their lives. Many of you don't know but their child was born and is in poor health. Imagine all that SHE is going through. The enbarassment of her husband having these charges as well as a sick, hospitalized child.

It is incidents like this that give Christians a bad name. I don't claim to be perfect but all I can do is pray- for DJ, and all parties involved. Everyone makes mistakes, I agree. But I know of students that attended First Baptist this past year and I was told he had the reputation of being a pervert. This is very disheartening and I can only hope that his family finds solace during this trying time.

That's not to say I don't feel for the victim. One in three girls is sexually assaulted in her lifetime. I agree that the school should do more conclusive background searches and possibly even psychological evaluations. But in this case it doesn't look like it would do much good. He had no prior record.

Isn't it sad that we live in a time where if a young man wants to be a teacher (and in some cases even a female) we always question why? Children are our most important asset. We should treat them as such.

July 24, 2009 at 7:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Notice about comments:

Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.

Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by signing up!

Full terms and conditions can be read here.





.Link.