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5 Shocking Revelations From The Thomas Ravenel Assault Case And Where The 'Southern Charm' Star Is Now

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The legal saga surrounding former South Carolina politician and reality television star Thomas Ravenel remains one of the most controversial chapters in the history of Bravo's Southern Charm. As of December 20, 2025, the dust has largely settled on the high-profile criminal and civil cases that abruptly ended his television career, but the details of his plea, the significant financial settlements, and his subsequent attempts to re-enter the political arena continue to draw intense scrutiny.

This article provides an in-depth look at the definitive conclusion of the assault allegations, the specific charges Thomas Ravenel pleaded guilty to, the financial penalties he faced, and what the former reality star is doing today, including his unexpected return to the world of South Carolina politics.

Thomas Ravenel: A Comprehensive Biography and Political History

Thomas Jonathan Jackson Ravenel is a figure steeped in the history and political legacy of South Carolina, a background that provided the initial fascination for his role on Southern Charm. His life has been a tumultuous blend of high-society politics, public service, reality television fame, and repeated legal troubles.

  • Full Name: Thomas Jonathan Jackson Ravenel
  • Date of Birth: August 11, 1962 (Age 63 as of 2025)
  • Place of Birth: Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
  • Family Background: He is the son of Arthur Ravenel Jr., a former Republican U.S. Representative and South Carolina State Senator, establishing the family's deep roots in the state's political landscape.
  • Education: Ravenel attended The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, and later earned a master's degree in business administration from the University of South Carolina.
  • Political Career: A Republican, Ravenel served as the State Treasurer of South Carolina from 2004 until 2007. His political career was cut short by a federal indictment.
  • Federal Charges: In 2007, he was indicted on federal cocaine distribution charges, to which he pleaded guilty. He served 10 months in federal prison.
  • Reality TV Career: He was a main cast member on the Bravo reality series Southern Charm from its premiere in 2014, often featured alongside his ex-girlfriend and mother of his two eldest children, Kathryn Dennis.
  • Current Residence: Aiken, South Carolina.

The Assault Case: Guilty Plea and Financial Settlements

The core of the legal controversy centers on two separate sexual assault allegations that came to light in 2018, leading to his arrest and eventual departure from the reality series. The most significant case involved a former nanny of his children with Kathryn Dennis, whom he was accused of sexually assaulting in 2015.

1. The Criminal Case: Pleading Guilty to Assault and Battery

After a lengthy investigation, Thomas Ravenel was arrested in September 2018 on charges of assault and battery in the second degree. The criminal proceedings concluded with a significant plea deal that saw the former Treasurer avoid a potential jail sentence.

  • The Charge: Ravenel ultimately pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of Third-Degree Assault and Battery.
  • The Sentence: He received a 30-day sentence, which was immediately suspended.
  • The Fine: In lieu of jail time, Ravenel was ordered to pay a $500 fine.
  • The Apology: As part of the proceedings, Ravenel issued an apology to the victim, stating he "deeply regretted" his actions.

This guilty plea marked a definitive, public admission in the criminal justice system regarding the incident, despite his initial denials of the allegations.

2. The Multi-Million Dollar Civil Settlements

Beyond the criminal court, Ravenel faced two separate civil lawsuits related to sexual assault allegations, both of which resulted in substantial financial settlements, highlighting the severity of the claims made against him.

  • The Nanny's Lawsuit: The former nanny filed a civil suit against Ravenel. This case was settled for a reported $200,000. The settlement provided a resolution to the highly publicized civil action brought by the victim's legal team, Holloway Perkins.
  • The Nonprofit Payment: In an unusual addition to the settlement, Ravenel was also required to pay $80,000 to a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting rape victims, People Against Rape. This payment was a mandatory condition of the agreement, further underscoring the nature of the allegations.
  • The Second Accusation Settlement: Ravenel also faced a separate sexual assault accusation from a woman he met on the dating app Tinder in 2015, identified in some reports as Lauren Moser, the hairdresser of his ex-girlfriend. This separate civil case was also settled out of court, though the terms were not publicly disclosed.

These combined legal and financial outcomes—the guilty plea and the multi-hundred-thousand-dollar settlements—effectively concluded the legal fallout from the assault claims, though the public perception of the former reality star was permanently altered.

Life After 'Southern Charm': Political Aspirations and Current Status in 2025

The immediate consequence of the allegations was Thomas Ravenel's permanent departure from Southern Charm. Bravo confirmed his exit, removing him from the main cast and distancing the network from the ongoing legal controversy.

The Failed 2026 Gubernatorial Bid

In the years following the conclusion of his legal issues, Ravenel has attempted to pivot back to his original career: politics. In a surprising move, he announced his intention to run for Governor of South Carolina in the 2026 election, a fourth attempt at elected office. However, in late 2024, he announced that he would be dropping out of the gubernatorial race. This short-lived political attempt confirmed that despite his legal history and public scandal, Ravenel remains committed to a life in the public eye, now reportedly re-registering as a Republican in 2025.

Focus on Family and Personal Life

Sources close to the former reality star suggest that his primary focus today is on his personal life and family. He is reportedly living in Aiken, South Carolina, and has expressed deep regret over the mistakes of his past. He continues to co-parent his two eldest children, Kensie and Saint, with Kathryn Dennis, a relationship that has been a central and often contentious plot point of Southern Charm.

While Thomas Ravenel is no longer a fixture on reality television, his name remains inextricably linked to the assault case that concluded his tenure. The finality of the guilty plea and the substantial settlements serve as a permanent record of the legal consequences he faced, closing one of the most dramatic and serious chapters in the history of reality TV celebrity legal troubles.

Key Entities and Topical Authority in the Ravenel Case

  • Legal Terms: Third-Degree Assault and Battery, Sexual Assault Allegations, Guilty Plea, Civil Lawsuit, Out-of-Court Settlement, Federal Drug Charges.
  • People: Kathryn Dennis, Arthur Ravenel Jr., Lauren Moser, Ashley Jacobs (former girlfriend).
  • Organizations: Bravo Network, People Against Rape, Holloway Perkins (law firm).
  • Locations: Charleston, South Carolina, Aiken, South Carolina, The Citadel.
  • Pop Culture: Southern Charm, Reality Television Star, Tinder.
  • Political Titles: State Treasurer of South Carolina, Governor of South Carolina, Republican Party.

The combination of his political legacy, his reality television fame, and the serious nature of the assault and battery charges ensures that the case of Thomas Ravenel will continue to be a subject of public interest for years to come.

thomas ravenel assault
thomas ravenel assault

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