Criminal Defense Lawyer in Moncks Corner, SC

MONCKS CORNER — A man suspected in his father’s death has been charged with destruction or removal of human remains.

Robert Lawrence Walker, 30, was taken into custody by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office on July 16. He is currently being held at the Berkeley County jail on a $20,000 bond.

Sheriff’s deputies were called to the Lakewind Drive home in the Moss Grove subdivision of Moncks Corner where 64-year-old Robert Earl Walker lived. His stepdaughter and her boyfriend called 911 after they found the victim’s body under a pile of debris in the garage on July 15.

Walker’s stepdaughter told officers that she was concerned when she couldn’t reach him by phone for several days, so she and her boyfriend went to his home to check on him, according to an incident report.

The investigation is still ongoing and no additional information was immediately available.

NORTH CHARLESTON — As dusk fell the Saturday before Halloween, a coven of witches paraded through Park Circle, donning conical black hats and dark-colored clothing.

Instead of casting mischievous spells, this group of friendly witches passed out candy to children in the neighborhood.

Known as the Park Circle Witches Ride, this annual Halloween event focused on bringing the community together for an entertaining evening while supporting a cause. Each year, the event raises money for the Carolina Youth Development Center, an organization that supports foster children.

The event raised $900 this year, bringing the total to $6,000 since the witches ride started five years ago.

Cruising through Oak Terrace Preserve and nearby neighborhoods, the group of 30 witches rode bicycles decorated as broomsticks and golf carts with string lights, shouting “Happy Halloween” as they passed out candy to children standing outside their homes.

Some golf carts had skeletons as passengers, and there was even a headless horseman riding a bike with a plastic pumpkin mask over his face.

Sarah Cross, an Oak Terrace Preserve resident, drove a festive golf cart with purple Halloween-themed garland and pumpkin decorations during her third witches ride. She continues to be involved in the event each year because it’s a form of outreach in the community across various neighborhoods.

“We love to do anything that’s going to bring the kids out,” said Cross.

Laura Kate Whitney, a Park Circle resident who started the witches ride five years ago, had seen similar events in other cities and wanted to emulate the experience for her neighbors.

“It’s really an opportunity to bring community together in a really fun way and to do something like that, there had to be a beneficiary,” said Whitney.

Since CYDC’s North Charleston campus is close to her neighborhood, she used the witches ride as an opportunity to bring awareness to the organization. The witches were encouraged to raise money for the nonprofit, but it wasn’t a requirement to participate.

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One aspect of CYDC’s services includes residential group homes in North Charleston and Berkeley County where children stay if they are in need of a safe place to live. The North Charleston campus was the first stop of the witches ride to ensure the children at the CYDC home received candy.

Another facet of the organization is to provide preventative services for families in crisis, such as the Strengthening Families program where a family success coach works with parents and children to help stabilize the family, said Joseph Mooradian, the director of development at CYDC.

“We’re really looking in the future at adopting more of a preventative method of community-based intervention, making sure that we get the families in crisis before the kid is taken out of the home,” said Mooradian.

Over the last several years, Whitney said the witches ride has become a tradition for families in the neighborhood. She said one mother told her that her elementary-aged daughter looks forward to making her broom and costume for the event each year.

While Whitney has goals of continuing to grow the witches ride, she wants to make sure it’s as easy as possible for participants to be involved.

“My only hope is that we successfully raised money and people had fun, and I think we’ve been able to achieve that over the last couple of years,” said Whitney.

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MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCIV) — For Thomas Hamilton, Moncks Corner is home.

For nearly 30 years, Hamilton has resided within the community he's seen change with time. But when he heard that a plan was in place to build 88 homes, that was more change than he signed up for. So, when the local government voted no to the developer's plan to rezone Perry Hill, it was the outcome of Hamilton's hopes.

"It doesn't fit the fabric of Moncks Corner," Hamilton said with a subtle smile. "I'm so happy our council turned it down."

Moncks Corner: Local government curbs construction to keep local charm intact, and Thomas Hamilton, a long-time resident, shared his thoughts on the no-vote (WCIV).

Read more: Mother shares experience losing son to drowning, says drownings 100% preventable.

Underpinning Hamilton's reaction to the vote is a desire for Moncks Corner to stay small -- stay local. A place where big-box stores meet mom-and-pop shops, local eateries, and the culture cultivated through knowing the neighbors and saying hello to those seen in passing.

"I feel we can update and bring certain businesses to the area, but we really need to focus and support our smaller businesses in town," Hamilton said. "We don't want to become another Summerville with the congestion that they have. When I get to Moncks Corner, I want to enjoy moncks corner. I want to bring amenities to us to where we don't have to travel out."

And for those in local government, behind the vote to slow down building developments is a desire to understand the effects of construction on an intimate community.

"Council wants to pump the breaks a little on new construction to see how that impacts the town," said Michael Lockliear, Mayor of Moncks Corner. "We always try to put out the best product we can for the town. That is why we went through -- a couple years ago -- our ordinances to revamp and get the best product."

Read more: A finish worth the wait.

Hamilton plans to run for Mayor of Moncks Corner, and what is driving him is the insatiable desire to have his home feel like a place everyone who resides in it can recognize.

"I just want to have an all-inclusive Moncks Corner for everybody," he said.

And sometimes, that means saying no for now in the hopes of saying yes to something that better fits the community later.

Idalia is likely to be a wind and rain event for Berkeley County, starting Wednesday afternoon and into Thursday morning. Expected rainfall is 6 to 8 inches. Other potential impacts from Idalia, including risk for tornadoes and storm surge, remains low at this time for Berkeley County.

Crews with Berkeley County Roads and Bridges have been out ahead of the storm, checking on flood prone areas, storm drains and culverts throughout the County.

OPERATING CONDITIONS: The County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) currently remains at OPCON 3 (normal operating conditions), with no activation at this time. Berkeley County leaders are encouraging citizens to prepare for Idalia by making a plan and building an emergency kit. View our 2023 County Hurricane Guide in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

SANDBAGS: Sandbags are now available at the following sites on a first-come, first-served basis. The sites are self-serve. More locations will be added, as needed.

CITIZEN CALL LINE: The Citizen Call Line (843-719-4800) will be operational by 8 p.m. Monday, August 28, for non-emergency calls ONLY. Callers will hear an automated response around-the-clock about County storm prep information.

For the latest news and updates on Idalia, follow Berkeley County Government on Facebook and at www.berkeleycountysc.gov. Also, sign up for all County news and alerts through the County’s Notification System HERE.

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– Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office –

Idalia is likely to be a wind and rain event for Berkeley County, starting late Wednesday afternoon and into Thursday morning. Expected rainfall is 4 to 8 inches. Other potential impacts from Idalia, including risk for tornadoes and storm surge, remains low at this time for Berkeley County.

County officials have been meeting and discussing preparations for any potential impacts to our area. Crews with Berkeley County Roads and Bridges have been out ahead of the storm, checking on flood prone areas, storm drains and culverts throughout the County. SC Governor Henry McMaster has declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm.

Citizens are encouraged to prepare for Idalia by making a plan and building an emergency kit. View our 2023 County Hurricane Guide in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

CLOSURES: All Berkeley County Government offices, the Courthouse, Cypress Gardens, Berkeley Animal Center, and all County Library branches will close at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, August 30. All facilities will remain CLOSED on Thursday, August 31, and reopen on Friday, September 1.

OPERATING CONDITIONS: The County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) currently remains at OPCON 3 (normal operating conditions), with no activation at this time. On Wednesday at 8 a.m., Berkeley County will transition to OPCON 2 with a partial EOC activation. OPCON 2 means a disaster or emergency is likely to affect the County, and emergency operations plans are implemented.

SANDBAGS: Sandbags are available at the following sites on a first-come, first-served basis. The sites are self-serve. More locations will be added, as needed.

CITIZEN CALL LINE: The Citizen Call Line (843-719-4800) is currently operational 24/7 for non-emergency calls ONLY. Callers will hear an automated response with Berkeley County storm prep information. **For all emergency calls, please call 911.**

POWER OUTAGES: Please do not call 911 for power outages. Please report outages to the appropriate provider below:

REPORTING STORM DAMAGE: If your residence or business sustains storm damage, please report it HERE. Those without Internet access can report storm damage by calling the Citizen Call Line at 843-719-4800 and leaving a detailed voicemail.

Reporting storm damage will help Berkeley County staff gauge the extent of damage in the County and report the findings to state and federal officials. These reports will determine appropriate federal and state funding for damage caused by the storm.

For the latest news and updates on Idalia, follow Berkeley County Government on Facebook and at www.berkeleycountysc.gov. Also, sign up for all County news and alerts through the County’s Notification System HERE.

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– Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office –

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCIV) — Kay Beilstein, who has been living along Merrimack Boulevard since 2017, sees the construction of new townhomes right next door to her for about a year now - and is afraid of what they could possibly bring to her front yard.

"Because we live in the Lowcountry, we get a lot of rain," she said. "There's a lot of flooding in some areas and (when) these neighborhoods get built, they don't really take into consideration where that water is going to go."

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Beilstein says when it has rained in the past, water comes on to the streets washing dirt on to the roads. She believes the new development won't help the problem.

"Right now, (the water is) going to go right on to my property and flood my garage and driveway," Beilstein said. "Hopefully, not the rest of my yard, but it depends on how much rain we're going to get."

In response to these concerns, Moncks Corner officials said, "In reviewing the plans, it appears that on-site and off-site stormwater concerns were adequately addressed."

Kay Beilstein, who has been living along Merrimack Boulevard since 2017, sees the construction of new townhomes right next door to her for about a year now - and is afraid of what they could possibly bring to her front yard. (WCIV)

The approved plans show the entire subject property will catch, detain, and release the drainage to the two ponds the property will have installed. This is accomplished with catch basins in the proposed roads, fine grading around the building pads, and underground pipes running from various points around the property, leading to the central and southern stormwater devices.

The vast majority of water from the site is designed to flow south (away from 119 Merrimack Blvd) to the central pond, then to the southern pond, before discharging at the southern edge of the property into an existing 45-foot drainage easement, according to the approved plans.

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Despite this new development coming, Beilstein hopes it won't change the area she loves.

"I'm not looking forward to it," she said. "I do really enjoy my neighbors and my home, but I feel like the town hasn't really taken into consideration that they're ruining our neighborhood for a little bit of money."

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCBD) – Over 30 animals suffering in extreme temperatures and living in “deplorable conditions” were seized over the weekend from an abandoned metal trailer in Moncks Corner.

According to H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue, who took the animals in, the trailer was in the parking lot of the Tractor Supply store.

The animals were described as “covered in muck, their own feces, extremely dehydrated, malnourished, and each with their own medical ailments.”

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The owner of the trailer, Justin Culley, received a citation for inhumane care and treatment of animals, according to the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office.

More than 20 additional animals were found on Culley’s property, also living in deplorable conditions.

H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue currently has the following animals in their care:

Culley is listed as the owner of Culley Farms Mobile Petting Zoo & Events.

The business released the following statement on social media Wednesday night, calling the allegations false and inaccurate:

“By now surely everyone has heard about the incident with our animals. The news is spreading defamation and inaccurate claims. Nothing wrong was done. Our business is being blasted and our name is being run in the dirt and nobody even knows the situation. We do not abuse our animals, we love our animals with all our heart. Anyone who knows us and sees us regularly knows the care, compassion and effort we put into our animals. They are clean with shiny coats, well fed and are met with love and joy by everyone around them. We are heart broken because of what has occurred. All of our animals are treated as if they were our children. We take pride in our animals and enjoy sharing the joy of animals with our customers and anyone else who would take the time to spend with them at any event we attend. The news has made outrageous claims that our animals were abandoned, malnourished and covered in feces. None of this is true and those who know us know this to be false claims. The situation was twisted and manipulated to make it seem as if we are abusive and neglectful. We simply had a flat tire on the trailer, plain and simple. The trailer was backed into the shade, jacked up with the tire off and disconnected at tractor supply where I felt they would be safe so that I could run around the corner to Mavis tire. The tire was mounted, balanced and I returned back to the trailer to a nightmarish scene. The animals were not seized, I voluntarily released the animals into their care under a temporary release. They also only took a portion of the animals, leaving us with many of our animals ranging from rabbits and pigs to ducks and chickens along with all of our domestic animals. Do you think they would leave us with any animals if we were so unfit? You can see from pictures of our animals exactly how well kept and healthy they are, with the exception of the horse who was given to us in even worse condition. We have had her a short period of time and has been on weight gainer for the last month. We want nothing but the best for our animals but also want to cooperate with the local enforcement. Our animals will be released back to us. We take pride in what we do, we love what we do and we love our animals with every ounce of our being. We have bonds with our animals that half of you would never understand. We spend more money every week feeding each of them than most people even earn in a week. We devote all of our time and efforts into providing the best environment we possibly can. I know every animals name, their personality their demeanor and could tell you every detail about every single one of them. We would never knowingly gamble with their lives or jeopardize their well being.”

Editor’s note: This story is breaking and will be updated.