Former Upstate officers, former fire dept. employee among 6 facing child sex crimes charges: deputie

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]Former Upstate first responders are among six people charged with child sex crimes. The 7 News Laura Miller was in a bond hearing for them in Greenville County this morning. Lauren.

[00:00:13]Well, Gordon, six people were charged and arrested. Four of those, one was a former employee with a a Greenville City Fire employee, another a former police officer with the Greenville Police Department, another a former police officer with the city of Mauldin, and the fourth one was an employee with the city of Mauldin for a number of years.

[00:00:38]Edward John Storer Leanne Whistler Storer Matthew Joseph Fay Pamela Michelle Lawrence Fults Wayland William Rogers >> and Alan Fults. Wednesday's bond hearing went one by one. Each of those six people are facing child sex crimes charges in an investigation dating back to the late 1990s. Charges like criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the third and in the first degree. Criminal conspiracy, some facing accessory before the fact to a felony. Now, investigators say two victims came forward in January 2026 claiming to be victims of sexual abuse by these suspects. And the alleged crimes occurred at various times between 1998 and 2003. Let the record show that the victims in your case are identified by the initials and Those victims came forward and spoke today. It was emotional. Several people filled the room. All suspects denied bond. You do have a condition of bond, no contact with the victims. Do you understand that condition, sir? Among the suspects, Matthew Fay, who was a former Greenville City firefighter, he is also charged with criminal solicitation of a minor. Alan Fults was a Mauldin police officer for about five years from 2000 to 2005. And Wayland Rogers is a former Greenville City police officer from 2000 to 2007. Arrest warrants show the six suspects were either friends or acquaintances at the time of the crimes, and one warrant states that Faye drove a child to different locations to allow other men to sexually assault the victim. This will be the last opportunity for those of you who do not have an attorney. If you have any questions that you may want to have addressed, thank you. Bond court is adjourned.

[00:02:22]Well, because bond was denied for all six of those suspects, they will all be held here at the Greenville County Detention Center. Live in Greenville County, Lauren Miller, 7 News. All right, Lauren, thank you. According to the city of Mauldin, Paula Tholes worked for the city for 27 years and retired this past February. Sheriff's office says it's still an active investigation.

[00:02:41]You can find the full list of charges at wspa.com.