Myrtle Beach Realtor disciplined for breaking into co-workers’ offices, computers
A Myrtle Beach real estate agent’s license is being revoked after he broke into several offices and computers to access information, according to the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
Joel Barber, a Realtor with Century 21 The Harrelson Group, reportedly broke into other employees’ offices and accessed their computers unlawfully in 2021 and 2022. Now, he will have to pay $20,000 in penalties, and his license is being permanently revoked.
Barber said in an email to The Sun News that the decision is currently under appeal, and “significant aspects of the findings” are being contested.
“I remain committed to integrity, professionalism, and long-term growth,” Barber wrote. “While this season presents challenges, I am focused on moving forward constructively.”
Century 21 The Harrelson Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Barber’s disciplinary action before the state Real Estate Commission claims that while he was present in the office after hours, several locked office spaces were broken into. During the first recorded occurrence, in December 2021, one of his colleagues’ assistant’s offices was broken into despite being locked, and their computer was accessed without permission.
On the computer, Barber is accused of accessing the assistant’s e-mail and Google calendar, as well as other documents such as probate court information and pay dates.
In January 2022, Barber is again accused of breaking into the assistant’s office and accessing the computer there, where he again accessed his colleague’s e-mails, probate court documents and more.
But that wasn’t the last break-in. Barber is accused of breaking into the same assistant’s office and computer several more times that month, accessing his colleague’s e-mail, calendar and documents.
Concerns about a computer warning
In February 2022, the assistant came to Barber’s colleague with concerns about the computer, which displayed a warning banner indicating a thumb drive was removed improperly at around 4 a.m. that morning. The colleague testified to never having used a thumb drive on the computer, but Barber could be seen on security cameras entering the building shortly before the warning’s time stamp, according to the disciplinary action.
Barber is accused of downloading several documents from his colleague’s computer, such as probate documents and cash flow spreadsheets.
This incident led Barber’s colleague to call the police, who discovered some of the downloaded documents on a flash drive supplied by Barber. Barber admitted via an attorney to entering the office on several evenings, and accessing his colleague’s computer. However, he later claimed that he did not review or approve the attorney’s statement.
Forensic analysis later revealed that Barber had accessed another colleague’s computer and information as well. Another employee of Century 21 The Harrelson Group testified that Barber had broken into two locked offices, and his employment there was terminated in February 2022.
The disciplinary board assessed that Barber’s actions carried an “extreme risk of harm to the public,” resulting in the permanent revocation of his license.
This story was originally published February 16, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
