Man found guilty of putting hand down woman’s pants in Carolina Beach after she refused his handshake

CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) — A man has pleaded guilty to sexual battery in Carolina Beach.

Paul Scott Jackson, 57, assaulted a 25-year-old woman inside a local beach bar. Jackson extended his hand for a handshake introducing himself to the victim and when she declined to accept his handshake, Jackson shoved his hand down the front of her pants into her underwear.

The victim, a commercial pilot on vacation and acting as the designated driver with her friends, immediately reported the assault to law enforcement officers already on scene.

Jackson adamantly and repeatedly denied that he had assaulted the victim and told officers, “Women will say anything to get a reaction, I guess they got their reaction.”

Officers were able to retrieve footage of Jackson’s sexual assault that was clearly captured on video surveillance of the bar.

Assistant District Attorney Connie Jordan said, “Jackson was angry she didn’t want to shake his hand and tried to show the victim that he was in control of her.”

Superior Court Judge Quintin McGee sentenced Jackson to serve the maximum sentence of 75 days in jail suspended with 36 months of supervised probation, he must not consume alcohol during the period of his supervision, and he must successful complete all recommended sexual offender treatment.

While the crime of sexual battery is a misdemeanor, a conviction of this offense requires sexual offender registration. Jackson was ordered to register as a sexual offender for 30 years