Former ‘Southern Charm’ Star Thomas Ravenel Pleads Guilty to Assault Charges & Avoids Jail Time By Paying a $500 Fine

“So that’s a no on the prison polo team, right?”

Well, it looks like Thomas Ravenel won’t be trading plantation life for prison after all. 

According to People, the former Southern Charm star took a plea deal and pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to third-degree assault and battery regarding accusations of sexual assault from his children’s former nanny, Dawn. 

Thomas reportedly received a 30-day sentence for his crimes; however, that sentence was immediately suspended for a $500 fine, according to Reality Tea. Thomas will also be on probation. 

Patricia right about now, probably…

As those who have followed this case may remember, in May 2018, Nanny Dawn accused Thomas of having sexually assaulted her in January 2015 shortly after she had put he and Kathryn Dennis’ daughter Kensie to bed. At the time, Dawn said her trepidation to report her story was largely rooted in fear that Thomas would not be charged if she were to go to police, given that he had previously avoided similar charges. 

Thomas was arrested in September of last year and charged with assault and battery in the second degree. In November, it was revealed that the 57-year-old would stand trial. Shortly after his arrest, Bravo confirmed that Thomas would not be returning to ‘Southern Charm.’ 

Though Nanny Dawn was not present in court on Wednesday, a letter she had written to Thomas was read by the judge on her behalf and Thomas reportedly agreed to the facts of the case. 

“Your honor, on the night of the incident I did attempt to kiss her and in so doing I grabbed her arm and that was wrong, and I am much appreciative of the opportunity to apologize to her in court today,” Thomas reportedly said in court, according to Live 5 News.

The judge, as soon as he saw the name “Ravenel” in this case.

This week’s court ruling is the second win Thomas has had recently, as last month he was awarded joint custody of Kensie and Saint—the two children he shares with Kathryn—and he was also named the children’s primary legal custodian. 

RELATED STORY: ‘Southern Charm’ Stars Kathryn Dennis & Thomas Ravenel Awarded Joint Custody of Their Kids By Judge After Patricia Altschul Spends “Hours” in Court Testifying 

(Photos: Bravo) 

18 Comments

  1. [* Shield plugin marked this comment as “Trash”. Reason: Failed Bot Test (expired) *]
    Omg, good old southern boys looking out for the name and status of their own. He should have gotten 6 month jail time, probation and a larger fine! Their judicial system is so corrupt!


  2. What a fckng OUTRAGE, seriously…. there are no other words for this really. Aside from the whole custody drama this is BULLSHIT. He has clearly shown abusive behavior ON CAMERA so that can only lead one to believe the allegations are more truth than not… and this is the equivalent to a “slap on the wrist” FFS. FY Charleston “Judge.”


  3. Talk about a travesty! What a joke! An insult to Sexual Assault victims everywhere! This guy is an entitled douchebag if rubbed worse kind. Give him time, he’ll strike again.


  4. [* Shield plugin marked this comment as “Trash”. Reason: Failed Bot Test (expired) *]
    Talk about a travesty! What a joke! An insult to Sexual Assault victims everywhere! This guy is an entitled douchebag if rubbed worse kind. Give him time, he’ll strike again.


  5. I had to pay a total of $547.92 for a traffic ticket I got in Feb. That was the total after court costs since I tried to fight the ticket. This f**kface who admitted to 3rd degree assault AND has a previous felony on his record only paid $500?? To be a criminal in North OR South Carolina clearly is worth it.


  6. Wow. And the justice system wonders why more people do not report sexual assault. What a joke the $500 fine. He should have paid at least $100,000 to each of his victims. God forbid he gets angry with his daughter or Katherine for that matter and see what he does physically to them. That’s okay he’s going to mess with the wrong woman and she’s going to defend herself and hurt him in a way he never imagined.


  7. No sex assault charge. No jail. Shows money buys it. Its why Jeff Epstein got away with his predatory behaviour for decades. This is why women are reluctant to come forward. Women WILL change this eventually.


  8. And they still gave him primary custody of the children! SMH the court system is so screwed up it’s definitely for the criminals.


  9. That fine is a insult to women that are in demistic volince situations, this guy has always getting away with crimes,you attack my daughter,let me tell you something u be eating from a straw in jail.


  10. Good ole boys club of Charleston. Now bringing it up in the future will be accused of being slanderous and whatever else they can call it. It will be used to make another person speaking the truth pay far worse than the perpetrator ever had to pay. What is that truly teaching this rich, dirty, old man?! $500 to him is like a quarter or 50 cent piece to the average person. Way to have him pay some consequences and come out looking squeaky clean! Had it been someone without financial resources to afford them a meal ticket out of jail, they would have sat in jail until after trial, been convicted and received a significantly harsher sentence along with their name added to the best list of all time- the sex offender registry for life. Mr. T- Rav will strike again. By his age, you know better and he will always be the same dirty dog he’s been since he could walk or talk.


  11. Kathern has lied about her drinking and drug use. Im sure that had a lot to do with the judge giving Thomas primarily custody of those kids. There is something messed up about both of them. If he is a rapist he will rape again.


  12. Must be nice for the men down in Charleston. You can assault a woman, down play it in court, and get out of it with a measly $500. Then pick up your kids for your joint custody arrangement and maintain primary legal custody while the mom has to submit drug tests and be dragged through the tabloids for her sex life.

    Good ol’ Charleston


    1. Call me crazy but I loved it when Thomas and Kathryn were together. I believe that Kathryn still loves him. If he could just keep it in his pants! I think they should both go to rehab and straighten their lives out. Kenzie and Saint need sober parents.

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