A Clemson alumnus and former part-time professor has been charged with assaulting a minor in Greenville, South Carolina.

On Jan. 24, Brian Stearns, 40, was arrested and charged with assault and battery in the second degree, according to Fox Carolina.

Per the arrest warrants, the victim was a 15-year-old girl who reported the assault on Jan. 17. She told officers that as she was crossing the street along N. Main Street and Coffee Street, Stearns tried to take her by the arm. She resisted, then he later placed his arm around her and proceeded to touch her inappropriately, according to Fox Carolina.

Stearns was an adjunct professor at Clemson University until August 2025 and is the founder and CEO of RingoFire, an advertising and marketing agency based in Parker, South Carolina.

Previously, Clemson News featured Stearns as a Clemson MBA alumnus in the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program who used the program to establish RingoFire.

In 2024, Stearns spoke at Brook T. Smith Launchpad for Entrepreneurship College of the Week, where he met with students and gave them an opportunity to network.

At the time, RingoFire was ranked in the top five growing advertising agencies in the world.

Clemson University did not respond to The Tiger’s request for comment by publication.

This is a developing story. The Tiger will update this article with information as it becomes available.