Police

Horry County

Three women face tax-related charges

An Horry County woman is facing three tax charges after her arrest Wednesday by investigators with the S.C. Department of Revenue, according to a news release.

Shana Qwnisha Ham, 20, of Loris, is charged with filing a fraudulent tax return, forgery less than $10,000 and conspiracy, according records at J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

If convicted of the charges, Ham faces up to $5,500 in fines and/or up to 15 years in prison, according to a news release from the Department of Revenue.

Revenue investigators said Ham provided a fraudulent W2 form to a tax preparer in order to have her 2011 income taxes prepared, according to the release. Although she did not work for the employer indicated, the W2 form stated that Ham had an earned income of $16,500 and $742 in state wages was withheld and she sought a state tax refund in that amount.

The investigation revealed that Ham conspired with someone to file a false income tax return and that Ham learned about the tax scam from another person.

Ham was provided the fraudulent W-2 tax form for a fee by the other person, according to the release, which did not list any information about that person or charges they may face in connection with the incident.

Also arrested Wednesday on similar charges were Exstraney Oliver, 30, and Connie Livingston, 29, of Conway. Like Ham, they are accused of filing a false income tax return.

Samantha Cheek, spokesman for the SCDOR, said the three women participated in a similar scam, but they weren’t working together.

MYRTLE BEACH

Housekeeper says guest assaulted her

Myrtle Beach police charged a North Carolina man with assaulting a housekeeper at an Ocean Boulevard hotel, according to a police report.

Steven Lee Painter, 70, of Zebulon, N.C., was charged with third-degree assault and battery after officers were called at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday to the Coral Beach Resort at 1105 S. Ocean Blvd., police said.

A 20-year-old woman, who works as a housekeeper at the resort, told police that she was told to take extra sheets to the room where Painter was staying.

The victim said when she returned to the room Painter was alone and she put the blankets on the edge of a bed, according to the report. The victim said she heard the door close behind her and saw Painter standing there. The victim said he inappropriately grabbed her twice before she was able to walk out the door.

The victim said she told her boss about the incident and then the police were called, according to the report.

MYRTLE BEACH

Myrtle Beach man charged in sex assault

A Myrtle Beach man, charged with sexually assaulting a girl two years ago when she sought lotion for a sunburn from him, has been released on $10,000 bail, according to jail records.

James Clifford Penny, 55, of Myrtle Beach, was charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct on Monday and released a few hours later from J. Reuben Long Detention Center on $10,000 bail, according to jail records.

Horry County police charged Penny after a 12-year-old girl, who was 10 at the time of the incident, told a 23-year-old woman in July that two years before she was raped by Penny, according to a police report. The girl said she had a sunburn and asked for some lotion to put on it and Penny said it was located in the bathroom.

The girl said she went into the bathroom to get the lotion and Penny followed her and offered to put it on her, according to the report. The girl said Penny then sexually assaulted her in a nearby bedroom.

MYRTLE BEACH

Police nab store owner on drug charges

A Myrtle Beach business man was arrested Wednesday following an undercover operation where officers reportedly bought a bath salt-type substance, according to information from Capt. David Knipes, with the Myrtle Beach Police Department.

Robert Steven Mills Jr., 60, was charged with two counts of distribution of a schedule I, II or III substance. He was transported to the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

Undercover officers had made buys of a product with a chemical substance called pentedrone at The Red Hot Shoppe, located at 701 N. Ocean Blvd., Knipes said via email. This substance falls under the new law regarding bath salt-type substances.

Agents with the 15th Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit and officers with the MBPD served a search warrant on the store Wednesday. Mills, the owner, was arrested on two warrants.

Local

CONWAY

Charter school begins search for prinicpal

The process is under way to find a new principal for the Academy of Hope, a year-round charter school in Conway, according to a school official.

Marion Shaw was the school’s new principal for its second year, but he resigned last week due to health concerns. Board Chairman Marvin Keene said the school is going back to its original pool of applicants for the interview process, and that Shaw also provided recommendations.

Keene said Shaw’s departure was a blow because he was doing such a great job for the school. He said guidance counselor Charmaine Lefft is certified to be head administrator and has stepped in as interim principal.

Keene said the school does not have an assistant principal, but as they go through the hiring process again, they will look at administration structure and the possibility of creating a director of operations position.

From staff reports