Registry fees are a scam and should be eliminated.
https://wach.com/news/local/former-deputy-and-victims-advocate-arrested-faces-embezzlement-charges
CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. (WACH) — On Friday, a former Clarendon County deputy and victims advocate was arrested by South Carolina Law Enforcement Division agents.
Sabrina Mellerson, 34, has been arrested and faces charges of misconduct in office and embezzlement.
SLED conducted the investigation at the request of Clarendon County Sheriff Tim Baxley.
According to reports, Mellerson is accused of taking money from sex offender registrants in her role as a deputy at the Clarendon County Sheriff's Office.
On April 7, Mellerson confessed to SLED Agents that she took cash from payments made to the sheriff's office and used the money for her personal use.
SLED said they will not be providing further details on the specific case but for general context and understanding included a proviso that allows Sheriff’s Offices in South Carolina to collect a yearly fee from registered sex offenders to be put on the list.
Proviso 62.10. (SLED: Sex Offender Registry Fee) Each Sheriff is authorized to charge and collect an annual amount of one hundred fifty dollars from each sex offender required to register by law. If such sex offender has been declared indigent by the Sheriff of the county in which the offender must register and provides proof of the declaration at the time of registration, the fee will automatically be waived. If an offender is not declared indigent and fails to pay the fee, he is officially declared unregistered. This fee shall be divided between the Sheriffs and the State Law Enforcement Division with one hundred dollars of the fee retained by the Sheriffs and the remaining fifty dollars remitted by the Sheriffs to SLED on a quarterly basis. These funds must be used to support the Statewide Sex Offender Registry.
Mellerson was booked at the Clarendon County Detention Center.
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