Former Aryan Nations Leader Charged with Sexually Abusing Young Midlands Girl

By Chris Winston
The State
February 19, 2014

http://www.thestate.com/2014/02/19/3277665/man-59-charged-with-sexually-abusing.html

RICHLAND COUNTY A 59-year-old man was arrested Wednesday, accused of sexually assaulting a young girl late last year.

August Byron Kreis III is charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor under 12 and disseminating pornography to a child 12 or younger.

Kreis, a self-proclaimed white supremacist, once sought out national attention, appearing on The Jerry Springer Show on an episode called "A Racist Family." According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, he once headed one of a handful of competing splinter factions of the once-mighty Aryan Nations.

Because of widely publicized comments made after the 9/11 attacks that he and his followers wished to join al-Qaida, Kreis came under the scrutiny of federal law enforcement. During an examination of his financial records to investigate whether he had given material support to al-Qaida, officials discovered unreported income.

He served six months in jail in 2011 after pleading guilty to taking $193,000 in a need-based military pension, but failing to report other income. When he pleaded guilty, he was in a wheelchair because of several amputations from diabetes and told the court he had seven children under age 17.

The arrest Wednesday, announced by Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, was a joint effort by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Kershaw County Sheriff’s Department, and Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.

The victim’s mother filed a report Feb. 3 that detailed assaults and pornography shared from September to November 2013.

Lott stated that this investigation is ongoing with additional charges forthcoming from Kershaw and Lexington counties.

Lott said anyone who may be a victim of Kreis’ should come forward, regardless of when the crimes were committed.

Kreis was transported to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. A bond hearing was held Wednesday afternoon, but no bond was set. Instead, a court date of March 17 was set.