Georgetown judge arrested for alleging pushing wife out of moving vehicle

Chief Georgetown Municipal judge Robert O’Donnell was arrested Thursday evening for alleged domestic violence.

O’Donnell, 77, was arrested by Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office deputies. He was arrested the same day he announced he was “semi-retiring” as the city’s top judge.

O’Donnell told officers that he and his wife were driving back home after a dinner in Myrtle Beach and began arguing about letting their dog out at their Pawleys Island home, according to a police report.

The argument escalated when his wife began jerking at the steering wheel while O’Donnell was driving down Ocean Highway, the report added.

He then pushed his wife out of a moving car, causing her to break her right wrist and cut up her hands and legs, according to an arrest warrant.

Deputies responded to the incident at the intersection of Luvan Boulevard and Ocean Highway where one witness saw O’Donnell’s wife bang on car doors, attempting to re-enter the locked vehicle, the police report continued.

O’Donnell’s wife was transported to a hospital for her injuries, according to the police report.

O’Donnell’s bond was set at $2,500 Friday morning.

O’Donnell has served as the Municipal Court Judge for the City of Georgetown since 1976.

Georgetown City Public Information Officer Cindy Thompson said that the city has yet to find a replacement for O’Donnell before Associate Judge Ranny Stephens is promoted to chief judge Aug. 1.

This story was originally published July 18, 2025 at 10:26 AM.