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Rep. Nancy Mace’s Ex-Fiancé and Two Associates Charged in Alleged 2018 Sex-Crime Case

By TheFinanceBase Team 4 min read

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South Carolina authorities charged Nancy Mace’s former fiancé, Patrick (Brendan Patrick) Bryant, and his business associates John Douglas Osborne and Eric Bernard Bowman on October 14, 2026. The charges arise from an alleged October 2018 incident at a home on Sullivan’s Island near Charleston. Osborne faces assault and criminal-sexual-conduct charges; Bryant and Bowman face voyeurism charges, and Bowman faces additional allegations involving obstruction and publication of identifying material. The accusations come from sworn law-enforcement statements and have not been tested at trial.

Who was charged and what are the charges?

The Associated Press reported the following charges filed in South Carolina on October 14, 2026:

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Defendant Charges reported Conduct described in sworn statements
John Douglas Osborne First-degree assault and battery; two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct Investigators allege he performed sex acts on an incapacitated, intoxicated 23-year-old woman.
Patrick (Brendan Patrick) Bryant Voyeurism Investigators allege he watched and photographed or recorded the incident.
Eric Bernard Bowman Voyeurism; obstruction of justice; a charge tied to publishing the name and video of a criminal-sexual-conduct victim Investigators allege he watched and photographed or recorded the incident, then engaged in the additional conduct described in the charges.

These are filed accusations, not findings that any defendant committed a crime. The reports do not describe a conviction or trial result.

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What investigators say happened at Sullivan’s Island

The alleged October 2018 episode

Sworn statements by South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) agents, as summarized by the AP and the Guardian, say a 23-year-old woman became incapacitated and intoxicated during an October 2018 gathering. Investigators said she fell into a pool and later lay passed out on a couch with a pillow over her.

According to those statements, Osborne allegedly performed sex acts on the woman while Bryant and Bowman watched and took photographs or recorded video. A second woman who was watching a security feed reportedly saw the incident and documented what she observed. The accounts in the affidavits are allegations that prosecutors must prove under South Carolina law.

What the charging documents do—and do not—establish

The affidavits provide the factual basis reported for the specific 2018 case. They do not establish every allegation about other people or other incidents that Nancy Mace later discussed publicly. They also do not show whether SLED’s investigation into any of the men is continuing.

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How Nancy Mace’s 2025 House speech relates to the case

On February 10, 2025, Mace delivered a nearly hourlong speech on the House floor describing what she said she had uncovered. The Congressional Record names Bryant, Bowman and Osborne. Mace said:

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“I accidentally uncovered some of the most heinous crimes against women imaginable. We’re talking about rape, non-consensual photos, non-consensual videos of women and underage girls, and the premeditated, calculated exploitation of women and girls in my district.”

That statement is an attributed congressional allegation. The later charges concern the particular Sullivan’s Island episode described in SLED’s affidavits; the charging reports do not independently substantiate every broader claim in Mace’s speech, including references to other women or underage girls.

What the defendants have said

Bryant denied the allegations in a statement reported by the AP in 2025. He said: “I take this matter seriously and will cooperate fully with any necessary legal processes to clear my name.” The available reports do not provide equivalent public statements from Osborne or Bowman.

Where the case stands legally

Charges are not convictions

A criminal charge means authorities allege that a person violated the law; it does not determine guilt. The defendants retain the presumption of innocence, and the prosecution must prove each count beyond a reasonable doubt in court. Descriptions of the alleged conduct should therefore be read as claims from SLED affidavits and charging materials, not adjudicated facts.

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What has not been reported

The reports available for the October 14, 2026 charging announcement do not state a trial date, plea, conviction, acquittal or sentence. They also do not report a court ruling resolving the factual disputes. Any later procedural developments could change the status of the case.

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How to read the competing accounts

Four different types of statements are relevant and should not be merged:

  • SLED affidavits: sworn investigative accounts supporting the charges over the alleged 2018 incident.
  • Mace’s Congressional Record speech: a political and personal account that includes allegations broader than the filed case.
  • Defence statements: Bryant’s reported denial and any later responses from the other defendants.
  • Filed charges: the specific counts prosecutors have brought, which still require proof in court.

Keeping those categories separate prevents an allegation in a speech or affidavit from being mistaken for a judicial finding.

Key dates

  • October 2018: The incident described in the SLED affidavits allegedly occurred at a Sullivan’s Island home.
  • February 10, 2025: Mace spoke about the alleged crimes on the House floor.
  • October 14, 2026: South Carolina authorities charged Bryant, Osborne and Bowman.

The Bottom Line

Three men were charged in South Carolina over an alleged 2018 incident: Osborne with assault and criminal-sexual-conduct counts, and Bryant and Bowman with voyeurism, with Bowman facing additional charges. The evidence described publicly consists of SLED affidavits and reported statements; no conviction or adjudication has been reported.

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