Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

Gov. Sanford suspends Atlantic Beach mayor after grand jury indictment in hit-and-run case

Gov. Mark Sanford has suspended Atlantic Beach Mayor Retha Pierce from her position after she was indicted Thursday by an Horry County grand jury on a charge related to an April hit-and-run case.

In an executive order issued Friday, Sanford states that Pierce is suspended immediately and will stay that way until she is formally aquitted or convicted.

He was able to suspend Pierce because she was indicted by a grand jury for what is deemed a crime of moral turptitude.

Pierce was indicted on a charge of leaving the scene of an accident with property damage.

News of the indictment did not surprise Pierce, she said by telephone Friday morning.

“They have succeeded at what they set out to do, which is to frame me. I just want my fellow constitutes to stay encourage because I will still stand for them. The title means nothing for me. I had to run three times for it. I’m not surprised,” Pierce said. "I shall stand and I shall continue to stand. They said I was in their way. They wanted to slander me and do whatever they could to break me. They have succeeded in what they set out to do in trying to show that I am guilty of what I was not.’’

Pierce said she has no plans to resign from her office.

"I plan to stand while they continue to carry out this bogus charge against me. I did not leave the scene I stopped. The other car that hit me stopped at another location. My understanding was the person didn’t want to press charges or pursue it," Pierce said. "I encourage the people of Atlantic Beach to stay strong regardless of what they’ve done to me or are trying to do to me.’’

Pierce said her legal troubles did not begin until winning the mayor's race in January.

“My head is blooded but not unbowed. I thank my supporters and many have looked at this and known that it is not justice," Pierce said. "My greatest crime has been to win the mayor’s race in Atlantic Beach against incumbent Irene Armstrong. My greatest crime was winning that election and wanting to help the people and that town."

Pierce was charged in April with hit-and-run/leaving the scene of an accident after a woman told police she was traveling south on U.S. 17 inside Atlantic Beach town limits when her vehicle was sideswiped by a white Chevrolet Blazer.

Town Council members and state Rep. Tracy Edge, R-North Myrtle Beach, have asked Gov. Mark Sanford to remove Pierce from office after her latest charge last month of a misdemeanor driving under the influence.

Pierce had been charged on three other occasions since 2007.

More details will be posted as they become available.