Community Address brings law enforcement, service providers and others together

Local investigators recognized by S.C. Attorney General's Office for work done in minor sex trafficking case.

The Lowcountry Human Trafficking Task Force hosted local, state, regional and federal leaders Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022, for its annual Community Address as part of Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

Our guest speakers included Kathryn Moorehead, director of the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force and Lt. Jade Roy with SLED. They gave lots of great information from the 2021 Annual Report and answered questions.

Moorehead shared that in 2021, 18 different defendants faced human trafficking charges, some with more than one charge, totaling 52 charges of human trafficking in the South Carolina State Courts. One defendant pled guilty in 2021 to three charges of human trafficking and was sentenced to nine years in prison, while 19 charges were dismissed in exchange for a plea. A total of 31 cases were closed in 2021, 28 were dismissals. Of the 28 dismissals, all but four are related to guilty pleas on related charges. The current cases still primarily reflect sex trafficking, but labor trafficking is beginning to be reported and recognized more in investigations.

Moorehead also awarded law enforcement officers from the 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office and the Hardeeville Police Department for their work done on a minor sex trafficking case. The case is still pending and currently being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charleston.

Kathryn Moorehead of the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force addresses a large crowd during the annual Community Address held Jan. 26, 2022, at the Hardeeville Recreation Center. Comfort backpacks filled with personal care items, clothing and a water bottle were distributed to area law enforcement for trafficking victims. The backpacks were donated by Lighthouse for Life.

We had a good turnout with more than 65 people from across the 14th Judicial Circuit and beyond attending, with representatives from the following agencies:

Allendale County Sheriff's Office, Jasper County Sheriff's Office, Hampton County Sheriff's Office, Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, S.C. Department of Natural Resources, Walterboro Police Department, Hampton County Department of Social Services, SLED - Human Trafficking Unit, S.C Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, City of Hardeeville, Hardeeville Police Department, South Carolina Highway Patrol, Beaufort Police Department, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Estill Police Department, FBI, Fairfax Police Department, Edisto Beach Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, South Carolina Attorney General's Office and the 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office, U.S. Department of Justice, University of South Carolina Public Safety and the Technical College of the Lowcountry.

Service providers, nonprofits and philanthropic groups also showed their support. We want to tip our hat to the following: Hopeful Horizons, Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA), Lowcountry Alliance for Healthy Youth, Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA), Fresh Start Healing Heart, United Way of the Lowcountry, Zonta Club of Beaufort, Zonta Club of Hilton Head Island, GWFC and Sistas On A Mission.

We want to especially thank the City of Hardeeville and Hardeeville Police Chief Sam Woodward for the warm welcome we received. (If you haven't visited the newly-built Hardeeville Recreation Center located at 285 John Smith Road, you're missing out!)

Additional reporting on Wednesday's gathering can be found here: WTOC and here: Charleston Post and Courier.

We hope to see you at the next meeting April 27, 2022. If you'd like to sign up or find out more about our task force, email us!