Authorities in South Carolina have alleged that a former teacher who has already been accused of sexually assaulting minors knowingly exposed his young victims to HIV, the virus that can progress into AIDS.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has filed additional criminal charges against Eric Marshall Favor, Jr., who was arrested in February on two counts of sexual conduct with a minor, criminal conspiracy, and promoting prostitution of a minor.
Favor, 29, was charged with two counts of knowingly exposing others to HIV last week, according to prosecutors.
The additional charges stem from unspecified evidence obtained by investigators — medical records, in all likelihood.
Records from the South Carolina Department of Education show Favor had held an educator certificate in the state for more than six years.
When he was arrested on February 10, Favor was a social studies teacher at Lower Richland High School in Richland County School District One. Previously, he was a teacher at Johnakin Middle School in Marion County from 2019 to 2022.
Officials said the allegations against Favor follow an “extensive investigation that began in 2024 and involves two minor victims.”
Both victims were described as being under 16 years of age.
Favor resigned from his position on February 10, just prior to his arrest. The South Carolina Board of Education has since suspended his educator certificate.
He is being held at the Marion County Detention Center without bond.
Favor enjoyed his five minutes of fame during the pandemic, when he made a rap video about staying safe that went viral.
Late last year, Favor was arrested by police in Florence for filing a false report and criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
Favor reported to police in December “that he was assaulted and kidnapped while being forced to commit sexual acts on two subjects, one being a juvenile,” Interim Police Chief Stephen Starling told WPDE. “It is alleged that Favor arranged the meeting to perform sexual acts with two subjects, one being a juvenile. We will be contacting Marion and attempting to serve our warrants while he is held there.”
It was unclear Monday, April 13, if Favor had entered pleas to any of the charges he faces, and information about his attorney was unavailable. A call to the public defender’s office was not returned.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual violence, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
