1 week Ago
BEAUFORT — A former employee of the 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office pleaded not guilty April 9 to a misconduct charge stemming from allegations that she tipped off a person being sought by immigration officials. Teresa Pye, 62, entered the plea during an arraignment hearing at the Beaufort County Courthouse. She was charged in March following an investigation by the State Law Enforcement Division, conducted at the request of the solicitor's office.
Pye is the former director of the solicitor's office Multidisciplinary Program, which aims to help nonviolent offenders receive treatment to address underlying substance abuse issues that often lead to the commission of crimes, explained Jeff Kidd, administrative chief of staff for the solicitor's office. There is also a track to assist veterans whose criminal behavior may be tied to post-traumatic stress disorder, he said. Pye is accused of warning a participant in the program that immigration officials were looking for him.
Pye was placed on administrative leave during the initial investigation, and the individual she is alleged to have warned was removed from the program. A human resources review of Pye's conduct performed by the solicitor's office uncovered information that resulted in her firing on Aug. 13, 2024.
Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone had referred the criminal investigation to SLED two months earlier, directing the agency to provide the results to the S.C. Attorney General's Office.
That office brought the charge against Pye and is prosecuting the case against her. During the arraignment, which lasted just a few minutes, Beaufort-based attorney Scott Lee promised to "vigorously defend" Pye against the charge. Lee, stating that Pye represented no flight risk, requested that she be released on a personal recognizance bond.
Judge Marvin Dukes agreed and granted a $5,000 personal recognizance bond that allows her to travel freely. Pye currently lives in Ohio, explained Lee. Both Lee and prosecutor Jason Bridges agreed to waive a reading of the facts.
Following her plea, Pye was taken into SLED's custody and processed at the Beaufort County Detention Center. County records indicate that she was released in less than an hour. "Common law misconduct in office is an unclassified misdemeanor, with a penalty range of 0-10 years," Robert Kittle, spokesperson for the attorney general's office, told The Post and Courier.
Pye was initially hired as an investigator and case manager for the Multidisciplinary Program in September 2015. She ascended to the role of director in 2021. Authorities have not identified the man she allegedly warned or provided details about why immigration officials were looking for him.
There are usually about four-dozen registered participants in the program at any given time. If a potential candidate passes further screening and agrees to join the program, they must plead guilty to the charges before a circuit court judge, who typically assigns a prison sentence. The sentence is held in abeyance while the candidate is part of the program, which usually lasts for 12-18 months.
While in the program, the participant must attend weekly status meetings, submit to drug tests several times a week and participate in counseling. Prison sentences are invoked for participants who fail the program. About 70 percent of the participants complete the program.
"We're trying to set them up for success, to be productive citizens once they're finished with us. We are treating their addictions, but we're also giving them other skills that they need to succeed." Kidd said.
Lee Reavis replaced Pye as the director of the Multidisciplinary Program..
