South Carolina's statutes classify a fraud offense as a felony when an individual allegedly uses deception to obtain valuable goods or property. Providing a counterfeit document or a forged instrument to receive property or services may lead to a felony charge. When...
Is mail fraud a felony?
South Carolina has laws handling mail and wire fraud. Some people believe that these are the same crimes. Some even think they have the same penalties. But they are actually very different. The law treats them as such. The courts treat mail fraud in a much more severe...
What offenses require sex offender registry registration?
One of the penalties in many sexual offense cases is registering with the state sex offender registry. This database will typically list your name, address, details about your conviction and other information about you, and it is available to the public. You will have...
What happens when an eyewitness makes the wrong choice?
Eyewitness testimony and identification are extremely influential in criminal trials in South Carolina and across the United States. In one study, two sets of jurors were presented with the same circumstantial evidence regarding a burglary. One set of jurors, however,...
The truth about being charged with a felony
Individuals who are convicted of a felony in South Carolina could lose their right to vote or the ability to buy or own a weapon. Traditionally, the public has viewed felons as bad or dangerous people who deserve to lose their rights. While this may be true in some...
Death of passenger in one-car accident leads to DUI charge
As many people in South Carolina know, a conviction for driving under the influence can come with serious penalties, including fines, imprisonment and driver license suspension. If a fatal accident was the result of a DUI, the penalties grow exponentially.A Georgia...
Former MLB All-Star sentenced on drug charges
Baseball fans in South Carolina and around the country may recall Esteban Loaiza starting the 2003 Major League Baseball All-Star game. The 47-year-old pitcher's career spanned more than a decade, but his fortunes took a turn for the worse when his minivan was pulled...
Growing population of felons prompts criminal justice reforms
People in South Carolina and elsewhere face lifelong consequences when authorities convict them of felonies. Even if their sentences apply probation instead of prison time, the people experience ongoing problems with obtaining work and housing. In some states, felony...
Stats about male on female violence
In 2016, there were 48 women killed by men in South Carolina. That is according to a report from the Violence Policy Center, and the report states that most women who are killed by men around the country are murdered with a firearm. It also stated the vast majority of...
