A 40-year-old Gaffney man remained lodged Tuesday at the Cherokee County Detention Center in lieu of $500,000 bond on charges that he had inappropriate sexual contact with a minor over the course of several years.

Ralph Doyle Smith, of Hampton Avenue, was charged in arrest warrants by Gaffney Police Det. Sgt. Jonathan Blackwell on June 26 with second degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor under the age of 16 and an additional sexual conduct-related charge.

His bond was set at $500,000 by Gaffney Municipal Court Judge Kaye Allison during a bond hearing at the Cherokee County Detention Center.

The arrest warrants allege the conduct occurred on multiple occasions between April 29, 2006 and May 26, 2008 at locations on Sarratt Avenue and Peachoid Road.

Blackwell wrote in an incident report that he issued warrants against Smith after investigations by the Cherokee County Department of Social Services, Gaffney Police Department and the Children's Advocacy Center.