A Columbus County man who said state Sen. R.C. Soles Jr. fondled him as a boy has now recanted that accusation, according to The Fayetteville Observer.

In an interview this week, Stacy Osteen Scott said he didn't tell the truth last year in a taped television interview when he said Soles fondled him 12 years ago, when Scott was 15, and then paid him $1,000 in hush money. Wilmington TV station WWAY broadcast the year-old taped interview last week.

According to an article posted on the Fayetteville newspaper's website Monday evening, Scott said he was mentally ill and on drugs when he made the accusation against the Tabor City Democrat.

Scott's earlier comments against Soles triggered an SBI investigation, which is still ongoing.

The full account of Scott's statement is available here.