Speeding trooper had suspended license
COLUMBIA --- A state trooper ticketed for driving 130 mph in a 70 mph zone has been removed from duty for driving with a suspended license, the director of the state's public safety department said.
Senior Trooper J.D. McGaha was suspended Friday after officials learned his license was suspended Dec. 3 through Feb. 20 for failure to pay vehicle taxes, Public Safety Director Mark Keel told The State newspaper.
Trooper McGaha was suspended from the patrol for three days after his unmarked car was stopped by another trooper March 28 on Interstate 20 in Kershaw County. Trooper McGaha, who has been a trooper since July 2005, was running late to the Carolina Cup steeplechase races in Camden, where he was scheduled to direct traffic.
In that case, Trooper McGaha faces a $355 fine and six points against his license if convicted, authorities said.
Top public safety officials didn't know about the license suspension until The State filed a Freedom of Information Act request Friday and obtained records on Trooper McGaha from the Department of Motor Vehicles, public safety spokesman Sid Gaulden said.
Pastor suspected in arson charged in fraud
ANDERSON --- A pastor accused of burning his church is now facing insurance fraud charges.
Anderson County deputies say Christopher Patrick Daniels, 40, of Belton, was charged Thursday with three counts of filing false insurance claims on behalf of Blue Ridge Baptist Church, where he was pastor.
Deputies say Mr. Daniels filed false police reports about vandalism at the church, then filed insurance claims for more than $20,000 in damage.
Mr. Daniels was arrested March 9 and charged with second-degree arson in a fire at the church the day before. He has also been charged with breach of trust after the reported theft of about $5,000 from the church.
Mr. Daniels is being held in the Anderson County jail.
Teen sex photos lead to woman's arrest
MYRTLE BEACH --- A 35-year-old woman has been charged with taking pictures of young teenage girls having sex and posting them online.
Jail records show Christina Lynn Player was released from the Horry County jail Saturday.
Ms. Player was arrested Thursday and charged with engaging a child younger than 18 for sexual performance. Police say the pictures of the 14- and 15-year-old girls were taken at Ms. Player's home and posted on the social networking site MySpace.
Court documents say Ms. Player knew the girls were underage and told police she took the pictures. A judge Friday set Ms. Player's bail at $50,000 and ordered her not to contact either of the girls.
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Anyone else would have went to jail for reckless driving and a host of other violations. 355 bucks? Are you kidding me. Thats a burned out tail light in North Augusta.
Morals! Where are their morals anymore? Do we not teach about them or are they just ignored? Good God.
Lesbians seducing the next generation of emotional deviates. Sounds like child porn to me.
If a person calls themselves a pastor, that doesn't mean they have good morals. It means they're patient enough to become a person called a pastor. This isn't a new situation. Corruption and perversion is within churches, as well as other groups, have been written about for centuries. I'm glad this one was apprehended. He should be used as an example of how not to act.
I thought state troopers and other police always drove 130 mph everywhere. Why was this one stopped?
As for the SC trooper, his huge lack of judgment is going to cost him a lot more than $355. It's going to cost him about $45,000 a year or more with the loss of a good job. It's also going to be difficult for him to find another police position with this on his record. And being that it is all his own fault, I don't feel a bit sorry for him. The good news is that this idiot didn't kill somebody innocent with his reckless behavior.
As for the SC trooper, his huge lack of judgment is going to cost him a lot more than $355. It's going to cost him about $45,000 a year or more with the loss of a good job. It's also going to be difficult for him to find another police position with this on his record. And being that it is all his own fault, I don't feel a bit sorry for him. The good news is that this idiot didn't kill somebody innocent with his reckless behavior.