Criminal Defense Lawyer in Camden, SC

CAMDEN, S.C. — The days of urging businesses and people to migrate south are officially over, or they should be. We’re becoming overpopulated so quickly here that resources are strained, traffic is jammed and people are getting grumpy.

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Energy officials recently warned that South Carolina’s power grid is overburdened, and brownouts are likely in our not-distant future. Not all agree on the reasons. State Sen. Tom Davis (R), who is proposing reform legislation, says the problem is bad state policy and poor planning by monopoly utilities.

This might be right, but it’s also true that millions of people are invading the Southeast and raising the demand for housing and utilities. We’re simply in no position to keep growing at our current pace in our current circumstances.

As of June, 2.2 million people had moved to the Southeast in the past two years alone, according to Bloomberg News, and in 2020 and 2021, the nation’s economic center of gravity shifted to the tune of $100 billion in new income to the region. Gee, wow, that sounds excellent, doesn’t it?

But everything comes at a price, especially growth. Yet public officials intone the word “growth” as if it had mystical power and was immune to negative consequences. Migration and population increases are nothing new, of course, but the scale of what’s happening now is sometimes horrifying to those of us who live here.

Allow me to introduce you to my hometown as a microcosm of what’s happening all over the region. Camden is South Carolina’s oldest inland city — the poor man’s Charleston — and its pitch to visitors is “history, horses and hospitality.” In the past couple of years, however, the area has exploded. Some of the resulting change is welcome: Long-ignored buildings downtown are being restored by thoughtful, preservation-minded developers. On the other hand, about a mile up Broad Street, the main drag, where it intersects with Interstate 20, there’s a new crop of hospitality-related edifices that seem to have been designed by Soviet architects.

They are the usual hotels seen at interstate exchanges everywhere, probably not shocking to casual passersby. But the core of Camden is on the National Register of Historic Places and deserves better from those who wish to profit from its hospitality. Ideally, some thought would have gone into matching the style of Camden’s history, which also includes a Revolutionary War park, a section of the American Battlefield Trust’s Liberty Trail, and an abundance of antebellum houses and other notable historic landmarks.

As the fifth of these hotels is constructed, it is a moment to recall Camden’s previous “hotel era” (1882-1941), when wealthy Northerners and Midwesterners “wintered” here with their polo ponies and horses. We have great footing in Camden — that is, sandy soil that allows horses to be run within an hour of heavy rains. These polished visitors were migratory birds who sought better weather for a time, then returned home. Most sat out the winter months at one of three well-staffed hotels, stimulating the local economy while conducting “one giant house party,” as one wag described life at the Kirkwood Hotel.

Of course, few towns demand quality development along interstates, for fear that developers will go elsewhere. But they should realize by now that they can ask for what they want. The growth that started with pandemic migration doesn’t seem to be abating. Elected officials and city managers needn’t apologize for insisting on high construction standards. If fast-food restaurants decide to opt for a cheaper deal at the next exit, then vaya con Dios, amigo.

Drive the roughly 30-mile stretch along I-20 from Camden to Columbia, and you’ll notice that the forestland has been replaced with chock-a-block housing, with nary a tree in sight. Many of these developments not only are offensive to the eye but also are destroying wildlife habitat beyond what should be acceptable. And traffic is becoming a nightmare.

The view is much the same if you take I-26 from Columbia to Charleston. Miles before you reach the coast, the landscape is pocked with developments and industrial installations that can’t even be identified. There seems to be no end to the bulldozing and burning of what nature had provided. South Carolina’s coastline has been thoroughly overdeveloped, increasing the potential toll of the next destructive hurricane.

Charleston, for its part, has become a Disney-fied interpretation of its former grandeur. You can trust that it’s nothing like the original, dowdy and downtrodden though it was. Unquestionably, new people and new money have saved the city’s crumbling architecture from further decay, but the patina, mystery and allure of this old port town are mostly gone. And so it goes until the Southern states will begin to look like all those places the migrating millions have fled. Prettier, perhaps, but thus it has always been.

Oh, well, you say, c’est la guerre. This is the way of things, and it’s not Ukraine or Israel or Gaza. But the South must wake from its multibillion-dollar trance and realize that while growth creates, it also destroys whatever stands in its way.

Camden is still a horsy town with a healthy porch culture, but for how much longer? The 385-acre Camden Training Center is being offered for sale, and one proposal circulating features 800 homes on 200 of those acres. The owner of the property — once owned by Marion duPont Scott, revered horsewoman and wife of actor Randolph Scott — certainly has a right to sell. But a coterie of preservation-minded citizens and “horse people” are hoping for something more creative and, preferably, equine-related.

The battle is on. Small, perhaps, in the scheme of things, but symbolic of all that might be lost to the gods of growth for its own sake and their enablers in banks and city and county governments across the Southeast. The most important challenge now is to manage responsible growth while preserving the integrity of the environment, our history and one thing you can’t buy back once it has sold: quality of life.

The Southeast is at a critical juncture concerning its future. You can see it, feel it, hear it and smell it. Shrugging in resignation at things you think you can’t control isn’t an option. If we don’t control the growth now, we might lose our last chance. Like kudzu, unbridled growth consumes everything in its path.

For now, might we politely suggest that some of you migratory birds wing it westward? California housing prices are dropping, I hear, and the heat there, if you don’t mind wrinkles, is gloriously dry.

CAMDEN, S.C. (WIS) - Residents on Arnett Drive in Camden are concerned about what they said are repeated water main breaks impacting their neighborhood.

Regina Lynch is one Camden resident who has been concerned over this issue since she was young.

“I don’t know if I have any structural or any water damage to my house,” Lynch said. “I have a company that’s coming to check that out.”

Lynch said this wasn’t the first time she’s seen what she called a water-main break by her house on Arnett Drive. She’s lived at this house since she was young and has seen this same issue on her street at least three times over the past few years.

Lynch claimed because the water ran off into her property, bringing mud and sand into her front yard, the City of Camden should be responsible in cleaning it up.

“There are yards of mud and debris in my yard,” Lynch said. “I don’t think me and my husband should be responsible for cleaning [it] up.”

Kershaw County Councilman Brant Tomlinson spoke with Regina over the weekend on how the issue could be resolved. He feels the city should be responsible for helping her clean up the damage left behind.

“A water main break is a terrible issue,” Tomlinson said. “For the City not to come in and financially substitute the damages to a homeowner who takes pride in their property is a real issue.”

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KERSHAW COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) - The woman who was in charge of Camden’s finances is now facing a dozen tax charges for allegedly evading nearly a quarter million dollars in taxes and underreporting more than $2 million in liquor sales at her private business.

Now-former Camden Finance Director Debra Courtney, 63, was arrested by the South Carolina Department of Revenue on February 2, and booked into the Kershaw County Detention Center.

She has since been released on a $5,000 bond, according to court records.

The allegations stem from Courtney’s ownership of a popular sports bar along Highway 601 in Lugoff called Gadgets, which she had operated until a few months ago.

She is accused of tax evasion, failing to file a liquor by the drink tax return for one year, underreporting sales to the Department of Revenue by $2.4 million from 2019-2022 and failing to pay the state withholding tax taken from employees’ paychecks for a decade.

The Department of Revenue said Courtney is alleged to have evaded a total of $238,384 in state taxes.

According to Camden City Manager Jonathan Rorie, Courtney is still employed by the city.

Rorie said she was immediately placed on paid administrative leave so that he could evaluate the charges.

However, he said on Friday that he anticipates that she will return to work at some point next week, but not as the finance director.

Some people who live in Camden believe that is the wrong decision.

“If it was me, you or anybody else, we wouldn’t have a job, so why should she?” Lifelong Camden resident Paula Tucker said.

Rorie said he made this decision because the charges stem from her personal business operations.

“I have zero, nothing that indicates any impropriety involving the Finance Director and city financial operations,” he said.

WIS asked the Department of Revenue if they are investigating Courtney’s role as Finance Director or any of her actions as a city employee.

A spokesperson said they cannot discuss whether or not they are conducting an investigation.

The allegations are troubling to Candice Currie, who has lived in Camden since 1989.

“I wouldn’t trust her with the city’s finances, not with as much as we’re all paying right now for our light bills and water bills,” she said.

Courtney had run Gadgets for several years.

However, according to the Department of Revenue, the liquor license expired on August 31, 2023, and the business did not submit a renewal application.

Since that time, local bar owner Alex Rose and his partner Benny Bruno bought the bar, re-applied for a liquor license and plan to open the bar under a new name, A&B Bar and Grill, within about three weeks.

In an interview Friday, Rose, who also is one of the owners of Overtime Bar & Grill on Bluff Road in Columbia, said he has not spoken with Courtney since the sale became finalized last month.

“Honestly, everything was very pleasant with her, and I would have never have guessed or known anything was shady,” he said. “She seemed to be very good with finances, and everything was in order throughout our whole purchasing process.”

Rose said he grew up in Kershaw County, and has been wanting to own Gadgets for years.

The decision to change the name was unrelated to this incident, he said, and instead was made with an eye toward a “fresh start” and a “clean slate.”

The bar is currently under renovation. A post on Facebook stated that Gadgets closed as of January 22.

“The plan is to open back up with new looks in all areas,” it reads.

Rorie said he named Camden Assistant City Manager Caitlin Young the Interim Finance Director on Wednesday, February 7.

A search for a permanent Finance Director is underway, he said.

“We started the search last year, but unfortunately, we did not find a candidate to fill the position,” Rorie said.

When Courtney returns to work, she will have a “limited role in finances,” according to Rorie, as various grants, projects, utility bills and budget administration are transferred to Young.

“This in no way should be viewed as a loss of confidence in Debra,” he said.

When asked about that comment, Currie said, “Loss of confidence? I mean aren’t you running a business there? You can’t have confidence in somebody that just got arrested for evading their own taxes and their business.”

These types of arrests are uncommon.

The Department of Revenue said they arrested 20 people for various tax offenses last year.

Courtney’s is the first arrest of 2024.

WIS reached out to Camden mayor Alfred Mae Drakeford and city councilmembers for comment about Courtney’s arrest, but did not hear back.

Attempts to reach Courtney for comment were unsuccessful.

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FLORENCE – Now comes the ultimate test.

Wren beat Daniel in the 3A Girls Upper State high school basketball championship, 47-31, Tuesday at Florence Center to earn a rematch against Camden and star player Joyce Edwards in the state championship.

The Hurricanes (28-2) got that far last season, but dreams of a title were dashed, 61-45, by Camden. Edwards, who has committed to top-ranked South Carolina, had 33 of those points.

Wren will get another chance here at 2 p.m. Saturday. Camden blew out Darlington, 71-35, in the Lower State semifinal and improved to 27-2. The Bulldogs have not lost to an in-state team.

“I think there is a big difference between last year and this year,” Wren coach Pam McGowens said. “Last year was our first state championship game. I think we’re a little more physical now and we’re able to protect the rim a little better. I think those things will be advantageous.”

Edwards, 6-foot-2, is a five-star talent who averages 31.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.5 steals, 3.9 assists and 3.1 blocks per game. She helped the USA Women’s Under-19 National Team win a gold medal at the 2023 World Cup in Madrid, averaging 12.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in 18.5 minutes.

“She’s a very talented player,” McGowens said. “We have to put a plan in place to where we can at least slow her down and then minimize what the others can do. We’re really going to have to prepare. We’re going to come up with a plan that will give us the mentality that we can win. We really want to win.”

Wren’s defense against Edwards inside will rely on 6-2 senior center Olivia Randolph and Deyana Hayes, a 5-11 senior forward who plays bigger than her size.

“Those two will be important,” McGowen said. “No doubt about that.”

Wren got tough test in preparation

Wren came into the Upper State final without a close game this calendar year. The Hurricanes have outscored opponents by more than 30.2 points per game for the season and in the last nine, it's been 41.7.

Daniel, though, was down only 20-18 at the half and it wasn’t until late in the third quarter that Wren started to pull away. Even then, the Lions (17-10) got within 33-27 midway through the final period.

“I knew from watching film that they were a physical team,” McGowens said. “They’re a young team, too, and they have a very bright future. I think having such a tough game might help us.

“We’ve been here before, but there was still a lot of anxiety. We figured it out and got relaxed. We started playing the basketball I know we can play. I think we realized that we’re here for a reason.”

Grayson White’s name is etched throughout the Camden High School football record books.

Now, the senior quarterback and his teammates have another chance to finally get that elusive state championship ring.

White rushed for four touchdowns and running back Averee Hickmon added two scores as the Bulldogs defeated Brookland-Cayce, 46-30, on Friday in the Class 3A lower state championship game.

Camden will play Daniel in the state title game on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at S.C. State’s Oliver Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg.

“We have a bunch of goals that Coach (Brian) Rimpf sets for us throughout the season,” White said. “The top one is a state championship. I’ve been a lower state champion, rivalry champion, but I haven’t got that championship ring yet. So that’s definitely the goal.”

It’s Camden 17th state championship appearance in school history and third in the last five years. All three of those state title games have come against Daniel.

White, a converted linebacker, has been the Bulldogs’ quarterback the past three seasons. This year, he’s accounted for more than 4,000 yards of offense and 54 touchdowns.

Against B-C, White was 21-of-27 for 309 yards and 20 carries for 69 yards. He also ran in a pair of two-point conversions.

“I hope every coach has a chance at some point in their coaching career to have a player like our No. 15 (White),” Rimpf said. “Whenever Grayson White is on the field, we feel like we are going to win the game. He set almost every record or at least tied everyone at Camden High for quarterback play. And we have a long, rich tradition.

“We’ve got one more game together. We are excited.”

Camden’s offense was hard to stop most of the night and didn’t punt once. The Bulldogs scored on their first four drives, the last touchdown coming on Hickmon’s 25-yard on fourth-and-2 to make it 30-14 with four minutes left in the second quarter.

B-C answered quickly as Will Young scored on a 25-yard run on fourth-and-3, and the Bearcats made the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 30-22. Young finished with 123 yards and three touchdowns.

The Bulldogs looked to score right before half as White hit Aidan Heriot on a long pass play, but B-C’s DeShaun Washington stripped the ball and Jvonn Edwards recovered it inside the 10-yard line.

The Bearcats’ defense came up big to start the second half as they forced two more turnovers with Camden driving inside the 20-yard line. The Bulldogs’ defense didn’t allow B-C to capitalize.

Hickmon scored his second TD of the night and a two-point conversion put Camden up 38-22. He finished with 73 yards rushing.

Heriot led Camden with six catches for 128 yards. Ja Mayrant had nine catches for 69 yards.

B-C didn’t go away and Washington scored on a 5-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter to cut the Camden lead to 38-30. Washington rushed for 75 yards.

But the Bearcats never got the stop they needed. Camden scored on its next drive, a five-yard run by White on fourth-and-2. Camden converted on a pair of fourth downs in the drive.

The senior flexed his muscles as he crossed the goal-line to put the game away.

“I had to let them know we can run the ball too,” White said of the gesture. “We can beat them at their game.”

The loss ended Brookland-Cayce’s season at 11-3. The Bearcats were making their third state semifinal appearance under coach Rusty Charpia.

“Of course we are disappointed because we felt like we had a chance,” Charpia said. “But Camden is a good team, well-coached and you can’t take anything away from them.

“... I’m proud of my guys and the season we had.”

This story was originally published November 24, 2023, 11:44 PM.