May 19, 2008 - Charleston County School District Employees ...

SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION

Contact: Special Agent Bobbi SchlattererOffice: (803) 896-7013

After Hours: (803) 737-9000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 19, 2008

CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES ARRESTED

The Director of Community Education for The Charleston County School District wasarrested by SLED agents on Monday, May 19,2008, at approximately 6:30 a.m. He wascharged with one count of Forgery.

The Director is identified as Martin Darrell Williams, 41, of 1626 Langston Drive,Johns Island, South Carolina. He was booked at the Charleston County Detention Center.

The second Charleston County School District employee arrested by SLED agents isemployed as a secretary at West Ashley High School. She is charged with FalseCertification by a Notary.

The employee is identified as Sharon Richardson-Hughes, 43, of 3434 Forest GlenDrive, Charleston, Sc. She was also booked in the Charleston County Detention Centerat approximately 6:30 a.m. on Monday, May 19, 2008.

The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by SLED at the request of theSouth Carolina Department of Social Services. The case will be prosecuted by the NinthCircuit Solicitor's Office.

Warrants attached.

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05/19/2008 . . .. SLED LOWCOUNTRYREG PAGE 03/05

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STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AFFIDAVIT'COUNTY OF CHARLESTON ' SLED 31070020PCISonaUyappearedbeforeme, 9.magistrateof this County,one. Special Agent Michele D. China, SLEDwho firstbemg duly SWOTIr,dcpose!Mmd-s~ -' --'- -

MartinDarrellWilliams u- - - - -'-- -u_-- -'-------

BfM, d()b:~ ssn n "lu IPltrbgt:5'11'\ wgt:283, Ika:1.626Langston Dr., John's Is., SCdid within this CQ\Jntyand Stareon the 16111 day of August, 2006,violate the:crirninallaws of the State ofSoutb Carolinain the followingparti~lars;

DESCRIPTION OF OFFENSE. FORGERY, .

VIOLATION OF SECTION 16~13-10

The affiant states there is probable cause to believe that the defendant na.med above did commit thecrime(s) set forth, and that ~uchp'roba'b1ecause is based aDthe followingfa.cts:

That between August 16, 2006 and Augtt5t 25, 2006, while employed as .Director, Community ofEducation, Charleston County Scho.olDistrict, in the County of Charkston, State of South Carolina

. the' aforesaid, one Martin D~r...ellWilliams, did comnrlt the offense of FORGERY, in violati.onofsection 16-13.10 of the South Carolma Code of Laws of 1976, as amended. In that he did wiIlfully,falsely make, forge, or counterfeit; ca.useor procure to be falsely made, forged, or counterfeited; orwil1fu1lyacted or assist, in the false making, forging, or counterfeiting of affidavits provided fo theSouth Carolin~ Department of Social Scrvice$ (SCDSS). Facts to establish the aforesaid are tbt thedefendant did send six affidavits regarding student enrolhnent in the South Carolina ABC Child CareVoucher Program provided at the Minnie H~ghcs Elementary School (Charleston County SchoolDistrict) to SCDSS to validate funds pr.ocurea for student enrollment in the voucher program in 2005.Th~defe:pdant a~s~d that due to hiSinability to locate the actu~l parents or guardians of six studentswhich SCDSS provided :tUn:dsto'cover the students ~ol1rnenf in the voucher program that he didpersonally fill out the student information on the affidavit and then did personally sign the.names (inthe area.stated: I SO AfFIRM) of the parents or guardians of the studE:Iltslisted ODthe affidavit. Thisthe defendant did falsely without advising, notifying, or providing knowledge of 'bis actions to theparents or guardian of the students. This the defendant did falsely without advising the person whonotarized each docUIJ:1entof the falsehood of his actions. This the defendant did. falsely withoutadvising, notifying, or providing knowledge of his actions to SCDSS. irus the defendant did tode:n:aud SCDSS regarding the validation of students involved in thc voucher program: Thedefendant's actions did cause SCDSS to provided funding for students who w,ere never actuallyenrolled in the voucher program in 2005. Special AgeJJtM~che1eD.. China, SLED conducted a:odinvestigation at tbe request of WendelJ Price, .Deputy State DirectOr, Administration and ProgramSupport, SCDSS, who will attest to prove the same. All again~tthe peace and 'dignity of the State ofSouthCarolina. .

Sworn to and Subscribed beCore me

this_dayof~

~S'19nature Of Judge

Address: 6435-A Fain StreetNorth Charleston, SC 29406

Phone: (843) 569~7593

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ARRFST WARRANT

~- $00331II"'""" STATEOffsourn CAROUNA.

Uc«iIJly/ b M~nlcfpalityof '

dHARLESTONI '

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. oseculfngOffi09r. i1anse: IlOR0+ V

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lis Warrant is CEm,RED FOR SERViCE in Ih6

Jeountyl OMU~1ty of, ' The accused

to be arrealEld find brought before me to belaJt with aCOOltllng to I~w.

(L'S.)Slgna~re o! Judge

ate:

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"i~Ncopy of !hI6arrestlwarranlwas deliveredto

~fendanl JV\l\t:n~ ~ UW:'.fA--,S

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~w EnforcementOffI~rI;

;ETURN WARRANT ~;00~~N""-(J').-I""-LO~ I..

AFFIDAVIT

FOOII Approwtd IJ)'s.c. A!Iomsy Gaiu!m';AjJtII 21; 2005SOCi. 61&

STATE oj:: SOUTHCAROUNA )

DCXmty/ OMunlciPaJity of )r.RART.F$mN }

Personally appeared befor& me thebeIng d~y swom' depo~es and saysdid wittlln thIs county j10nd slate on

State of Sputh Carolln!! (or, OIdinan09 ofin the fOllowing plUtiCIJI!lI'$:DESCRIPOOH OF OFFENSE~

who

lam 01 the

FORGERY16-13-10

I ful1t1er state that there Is probable (:11\168 to believe that !he defendanl named above did' cammll!he c!'trr\oeset forth and that protJablecause Is baSed on the f01LOwtngfacts:

81m A'ITACHiID AFFIDAvrr

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~ignature or Affianl ~.1'~' ~ ~

"'ATE<>F SO"'" CAROUNA I I - Add,...=~0'

0 . 001 ~TMm A SC ')q)'-1-119RCountyl MUfljclpalityof ) .' ,

x, '. ) Affiay\rsTelephone 803-737..9000 .

, CHARLBSTON A.RREST WARRANTTO ANY LA" ENFORCEMENT OFFlC~R OF 'nITS STATE OR MUNICIPALnY OR ANY CONSTABLE OF nus COUtnY:

It appeari.tI1J from the'. abOve affidavit U1at there are '~nable 'grounds to believe thatan deferKlant ~II"..nilcwu n A8V1:A". WIr IT. UQ

, ,did violate the' SoLlih C~

,,' Ocwntyf DMunfciplIIity of . ' . . ) as set rorth belo'iN:DESCitP.nONOF OFFENSE: CHARLESTON

FORGERY

Having /cuRd probable cause and the aboWi dldlavtng swoin OOfore me, you are empowered and dlrec&ed to 8I11IIS1the saIdt/eferldarlt and tiring. him or her .be:fore m& forthwith to be t/epft wiII1aooorcflng to law. A copy of this Arrest Warrant shall be dB!Ilvered to

1119 d61endant at ff18 time 0/ .Its &xiecWon, or as soon1tmeafter as Is practicable.

Sworn to and.subscribedbeforeme )Qn .. '~,~... ftAnO )

) Judg8's Address '

(LS.) )

) Judge's Tek/phoriõe

Issuing Coort:

"

SigmdUr6 of !ssuing JudgeJudge Code:

;)1I-'~KV.BNU~ ;'Ullb lUO

N. CHAIU..BSTON,8C 2940' ~

rnk~82o MU~lc1pa1 0 OJrouI!X

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10041CAFORIGINAL

05/19/2008 ...' r=<j-rrw< SLED LOWCOUNTRYREG PAGE 05/05

, < STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

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COUNTY OF CHARLESTONAFFIDAVIT

SLED# 31070020---- -----.-.---.-- --

Personallyappearedbeforeme, a magi.strateofthi~ County,one Special Agent Michel,e D. China; SLEDwho first being duly sworn, deposes and says that

Sharon Richardson-Hugbesw/f, dob;~sn:_hgt:5'4", wgt:155, Ika: 3434 Forest Glen Dr., Chas., SC 29414

did withinthis COllntyand Stateon the 23rd dayof August, 2006, violate the criminallawsoftheState of South Carolina in the fol1owing particulars:

r DESC~UPTIONOF OFFENSEFALSE CERTIFICATION BY A NOTARY

VIOLATION OF SECTION26~l~95

The affiant states there is probable cause to believe that the defendant named above did commit the crime(s)set forth, and that such probable cause is based on the followingfacts:

\tJIII~~~'

That on August 23, :2006;while employedby the CharlestonCounty SchoolDistrict, as a SecretarywithWest Ashley High School, which is located in the City of Charleston,County of Charleston,State ofSouth Carolina, the defendant, Sharon Rich.ardson-Hughes; did com.mit the offense of FalseCertification By A Notary in violation of Section26-1-95of South Ca.r.olinaCode of Laws of 1976,asamended. The facts to establish the above arc that the defendant did unlawflllly provide her service as aNotary Public certified-by ..the -&'uthCarolina Secretary of State and Na.tio"'laiNotary. Association, toMartin Darrell Williams; Director, Community of Education, Charleston County School District, whoprovided six affida.vits which he knowingJy and unlawfully forged the signatures of six parents/guardians.The defendant did certify the affidavits a.strue without the parents/guardians being present to certifying orswearing the signature on the affidavits were their signatures. The defendant did in her official ca.pacity asa Notary Public notarized the six affida.vits whereby she did falsely certify, affinn, swear, andacknowli:idgedthesignaturesof the a'ffidavitsas true. The affidavitswere subsequentlysubmittedto theSouth Carolina Department of Socia! Services (SCDSS) as tme documents whereby funds where falselyprovided by SCDSS to Minnie Hughes Element.:1I'YSchool AfterschooJ. Pr.ogram, Charleston, SC, tofinance activities for students who were not truly enrolled in the afterschool pr.ogram. SCDSS providedthe affidavits to the State La.w Enforcement Division (SLED) for investigation. Special Agent Michele D.China, SLED, conducted an investigation at the request of Wendel! Price, Deputy State Director;Administration and Program Support, SCDSS, who will attest to prove the same. An against the law,peace and dignity of the State of South Ca.roJina.

Sworn to and Subscribed before me

this - day o~ 2008.MQ~.

(AFFIANT) ~

Signature of Jud!:e

/ Address: 6435-A Fain StreetNorth Charleston, SC 29406

Phone: (843) 569~7593

.signalUreofAffianl --- - ~STATEOF SOUTHCAROUNA } AflIanrsAddress P. O. BOX 21398

Th . sed 0 0 mUIMRTA, RC: '-Q1'!I.1398e aactI Ccuntvl Muriicipalltyof ) '1

is 10 be 8nestfHI ~d brought before me 10 be X I } AffiarJt'sTelepl10ne 101.7;' .CJnnn

deatt withacooltl~w. CllARLESTON A RR EST WAR RAN. rTO ANYLAW ENf'ORCEMENT OFACER OF THIS STATE OR MUNICJPAUTYOR ANY CONSTABLE OF THIS COUNTY:

I( appearing from the above affidavit Ihat there are reasonable groumls to belieVe that

d~ vio1E11ethe ~s of the State of ~:~~~!lna (or Ordirla~ DCHAti>80N HlJ(JHBS

0 Countyl 0 Munlolpalliyof ) as set forth be1ow:DESCiiPTION OF OJ"FENSE: CHARLBS'IUN

If)IS)"-..rIS)

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ARR$T WARRANT

. K-,300484STATE, O~ SOUTH CAROLINA

Ocd(nty/. cp MUrlic1paJityat_.~

""E STATE

against

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l!:jw~>-~I-Z:J0U3:0...J~W...J(f)

SHARON RICHARDSON.IDJOHPS

Adtlres~HA"R31~~~~DR.. '

PhOlle: I 5 -- ,-- ..Sex:-FRace: - Wig~t ~Inteigtlt: 15SDLState: - DU: !DOB: 'R] iJ! AgeriCY ORl#.

prosecuting Agem:y:! ~T.ROIProsecullngOfficer: J rHTNAOffense: FATJ::R ~TIFI~ATlnN RV A NOTARY

: Offem.eCode:COOe/Oldinance See: ?& 1.01\

IThis Warran\ is CEIiffiAEO FOR SERVICE irl the

0 Countyl 0 Mun1c!paUtyof

(L.s.)Sjgnab!Jre of Judge!

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Date:IIIRETuRN

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A ropy of this an-estI warmm Wa13delivered todefendall(<JlAtlnAJ £/C/Jt(/.t){w.J - Hf/~

011, ~ 5J~/£1ar .

~~eJLaW EnforoemenlOl'licerII

RETURN WARRANT Tp:

roIS)IS)N"-U'rl"-If)IS)

STATEOFSOllTHCAROUNA

0 cX.rrtyl OMurncfjJality ofCHART.~TON

FOlm "W1'CMIoCI bys.c. A!kJmey GenoeJaJApril 2~. 2M350CA 61S

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AFFIDAV'T

PenIOI1aIlV appeared befpreme the Spp~ AI A f1RNT CJ.m\1 A wtlobeing duly sworn deposes and says SHARON RICH o\lU)S()bW-'{ IQHBSdid within this .county ?-"d stale on violate the criminal laws of theSUire of SouUl CaroIiM (or cmIinarroe of t:RARI 'p.qmNirl the following. particulars;

DESCRIPTION OF OFFEN9~~FALSE CERTIFICA'I10N BY A NOTARY26-1-95

I further staIa that them is probable cause to bell9V6 that the defendanl named abDVe dicl(he crime set forth ;me!that probable cause is based on the follow1r1gfacts:

oormTlit

SEE AITACHIID AFFIDAVIT

FALSBCBRTIFlCATIONBY A NOTARY

HavingfounclproOOblecause anclthe ~ I1E1Yingswam~ore me, you are empoweredand di~ to arrestthe saiddelemdant aJld brfrlg him or t,1erbefore me forthwith to be dealt wilh aooording to law. A copy of this A/Test Wanaf1t s11Bl1be delivered 10ltie defendant at Ihe time of .,its exec:trtIoo, or as soon 1hlilreafter as is practicable.

Sworn to and subscribed ~e me )

Orl . 'I "-'IV 16 2008 )) Judge's Address

(loS.) )} Judge's Teiephone

Issujng CQ1Jrt:

Signature of I

Judge Code: