Across South Carolina

Teacher charged after teens party with alcohol

MYRTLE BEACH --- An Horry County elementary school teacher has been charged with three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Georgetown County deputies say 39-year-old Gina Black rented a house for several teens over spring break last month and let them drink alcohol.

Authorities say they began investigating Ms. Black after hearing Conway High School students talk about what happened.

Horry County School District spokeswoman Teal Britton told The Sun News of Myrtle Beach that Ms. Black was placed on administrative leave on April 3.

Man is accidentally released from jail

GREENVILLE --- The administrator of the Greenville County jail says a man sentenced to three months behind bars was mistakenly released just hours after pleading guilty to assault.

Assistant County Administrator Jim Dorriety says jail officials set 20-year-old Christopher Michael Williams free Wednesday night.

The Greenville News reported that Mr. Williams pleaded guilty earlier in the day to aggravated assault and battery.

Mr. Dorriety says jail officials misread an order from prosecutors. He says his office will ask sheriff's deputies to pick Mr. Williams up and return him to the jail to serve his sentence.

Alternative court bill OK'd by House panel

COLUMBIA --- A bill that creates an alternative court system for nonviolent offenders and requires prisoners to serve most of their sentences was approved Thursday by a House panel.

Attorney General Henry McMaster said a combination of counseling, treatment and education under the alternative court system is a better way to rehabilitate people and will save the state millions of dollars.

The measure requires one alternative court in each of the state's 16 judicial circuits within six months. The bill would also require all prisoners convicted after it becomes law to serve at least 85 percent of their time.

Mr. McMaster says truth-in-sentencing restores accountability in the judicial process, and means victims and their families don't have to relive the crime at parole hearings. But Corrections Department Director Jon Ozmint said the idea would further overcrowd prisons and cost taxpayers millions to build more.

-- Associated Press