Disgraced politician Thomas Ravenel will appear in a courtroom in Charleston, South Carolina next week for his first public hearing following a late September arrest for assault.

Ravenel’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday, November 5 at 10:00 a.m. EST. He will be represented during the proceedings by Charleston-based criminal defense attorney Cameron Blazer.

Prosecutors from the office of S.C. ninth circuit solicitor Scarlett Wilson will also be in attendance, as will Ryan C. Andrews – who is representing the victim in the case.

Sources close to Ravenel have boasted privately that there is “no case” against him – and that they expect the charge against him to be dropped before the case makes it to a trial.

Do we buy that? No …

Ravenel was charged on September 25 with one count of second degree assault and battery – news of which broke exclusively on FITSNews.com .

The 56-year-old businessman – who has gained infamy as the star of Bravo TV’s Southern Charm reality television show – is accused of undressing and making unwanted sexual advances on an unnamed female victim during an incident said to have taken place on January 15, 2015.

Those advances were recalled in graphic detail in a probable cause affidavit accompanying a warrant for Ravenel’s arrest.

“The defendant grabbed the victim’s hand and placed it on his penis before attempting to remove the victim’s clothing,” the affidavit read. “While (Ravenel attempted) to remove the victim’s clothing, the victim’s underwire bra cut into her skin and her shirt wrapped around her neck, which caused the victim to struggle to breathe.”

It got worse from there …

(Click to view)

(Via: Provided)

Ravenel’s arrest was the culmination of a lengthy investigation into allegations made by Nanny Dawn – who also appeared on Southern Charm.

News of this investigation was exclusively reported by this news outlet back in May. In a follow-up report, we revealed that several key pieces of evidence related to the case – including a cell phone loaded with what one source called “incriminating data” – were in the process of being turned over to detectives leading the investigation.

Also in May, our guest columnist Amy Feinstein published an exclusive interview with Dawn, whose story exploded shortly thereafter – including feature stories in People and The Daily Mail.

Dawn appeared at Ravenel’s arraignment, articulating concern for the two children he has with co-star Kathryn Dennis. According to our sources, Ravenel had custody of the two children at the time of his arrest.

No word yet on whether Dawn will make an appearance at Ravenel’s preliminary hearing.

In mid-August, Ravenel announced he was quitting the wildly popular Charleston-based reality television show, which just wrapped its fifth season. Shortly after news of his arrest broke, Bravo confirmed he would not be returning for the show’s sixth season.

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As we have frequently pointed out to readers, Ravenel – like anyone accused of any crime – should be considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by our criminal justice system (or until such time as he may wish to formally enter a pleading in connection with the charge against him).

Ravenel has declined to comment for any of our stories, however in mid-April he issued a blanket denial in response to any allegation of sexual assault involving a woman.

“I’ve never assaulted a woman in my life,” he told us at the time.

This criminal case is by no means the extent of Ravenel’s legal drama. He is also involved in a civil matter related to Luzanne Otte – a California canon lawyer he briefly dated – and we are told his custody war with Dennis is once again ramping up.

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