A day after state Rep. Thad Viers was arrested on a harassment charge, his lawyer said the Myrtle Beach lawmaker will not resign. But that doesn’t mean his seat in the state House is 100 percent secure.
Viers’ attorney, Columbia-based Dylan Goff of James E. Smith Jr., PA, said Saturday that his client would not step down, and he is looking forward to the next legislative session, which begins Tuesday.
Viers, 33, was charged Friday with first-degree harassment, a misdemeanor which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison. A grand jury has not yet indicted him, but if they do, the charge could be enough to lead to his suspension from office.
According to state law, “A member of the General Assembly who is indicted in a state court or a federal court for a crime that is a felony, a crime that involves moral turpitude, a crime that has a sentence of two or more years, or a crime that violates election laws must be suspended immediately without pay by the presiding officer of the House or Senate, as appropriate.”
Greg Foster, a spokesman for House Speaker Bobby Harrell, who presides over the state House, would not comment about the possibility of suspending Viers, saying only that “To my knowledge, our office has not been notified of any kind of indictment.”
Colleagues of Viers in the state House contacted Saturday declined to comment.
Viers is accused of having unwanted contacts with a 28-year-old ex-girlfriend through e-mail, phone calls and text messaging and showing up at her home and work.
“When the facts come to light, you’ll see that there’s two-sided communications,” Goff said. “This is a four-year relationship that, like any long-term relationship, has dynamics to it.
“He’s been very hurt by her accusations.”
The victim’s attorney, Scott Joye of Murrells Inlet, said Saturday that she did not want to comment.
Viers was convicted on similar charges in 2007, but the charge in that case – unlawful communications – carried a maximum sentence of 30 days, which would not have triggered any suspension from his elected duties. The 2007 case, in which he left threatening messages on the answering machine of his ex-wife’s new lover, ended with Viers paying a fine of $500.
On Friday, Viers also announced he was dropping out of the race for the 7th Congressional District, leaving 14 candidates still in the running.
Saturday, some of the candidates spoke out on this latest development in the race for the 7th District seat.
“I think that Thad Viers has done a lot for Horry County and I’m sorry for what he’s having to go through,” said Republican candidate and Horry County Council Chairman Tom Rice.
Fellow GOP contender and Myrtle Beach businessman Jim Mader said he was sorry to hear the news.
Another candidate, Mande Wilkes, said if a candidate’s or representative’s personal life hinders their ability to represent their constituents, then they should step aside.
“That’s the only time personal life should affect politics,” she said.
Viers’ withdrawal from the race will have an impact, particularly on the coastal side of the district, according to Dr. Neil Thigpen, a retired political science professor at Francis Marion University.
Viers, Thigpen said, “was probably one of the two or three candidates who could have come out of Horry County with a sizable vote. This will probably be helpful to the other two, Tom Rice and Randal Wallace. They were the other two candidates from Horry County with sizable voter bases, given all three held elective office.”
Viers had been singled out for support in the past by Gov. Nikki Haley, and on Friday her spokesman offered more positive thoughts.
“Thad Viers has always been a conservative fighter and a good legislator who worked hard for the constituents in his district,” said Rob Godfrey, “We wish him well.”
Viers was released from the Myrtle Beach jail Friday afternoon on a $5,000 bond.
He has the option of a preliminary hearing, which he must decide on within 10 days. His initial appearance was set for Feb. 24 at 1 p.m., and his docket date is set for May 4 at 8:30 a.m. Both appearances will be held at the Horry County Judicial Center in Conway.
The Florence Morning News contributed to this report.
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