A 29-year-old man has pled guilty to harassment after igniting a wooden cross facing his Black neighbors鈥 home but will not be going back to jail.
Worden Butler, who lived next door to Shawn and Monica Williams in the Conway area, was accused by his neighbors of lighting a cross in an effort to intimidate the Black couple who had recently purchased their house on Corbett Drive as a vacation home.
鈥淭his is a form of domestic terrorism is what it is,鈥 Shawn Williams said after the cross burning, which occurred the day after Thanksgiving in 2023. 鈥淚t鈥檚 designed for intimidation. It鈥檚 designed to send a negative message. All the negative connotations associated with cross burnings, especially just before reconstruction and after reconstruction. We all know what that means.鈥
Butler and his girlfriend, Alexis Hartnett, were both charged with second degree harassment in connection with the cross burning.
On Wednesday, Jan. 29, Butler pled guilty to the harassment charge and judge William Hutson sentenced Butler to time served, meaning he will not be forced to return to jail.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 guilty plea is a small acknowledgement by the defendant of wrongdoing and, while it does not make up for what occurred, we hope it brings some measure of relief to the Williams family and our community,鈥 a statement from Horry County Police Department reads. 鈥淭he seriousness of this case should not be understated. Know this鈥攈arassment will not be tolerated in Horry County. Hate has no place here, and actions taken by one community members to harass another are wholly inappropriate.鈥
Horry County Police Department Captain Danny Furr said in January 2024 that burning a cross was not a crime in and of itself, but paired with the history of threats, derogatory comments and intimidation based on racial biases, HCPD was able to charge the two with harassment.
鈥淭here is no current law for burning a cross in your own yard. It鈥檚 the totality of the situation at hand,鈥 Furr said. 鈥淚t was done in a way in order to intimidate and continue the effects that the subjects had started with the Williams family with intimidation, threats, not wanting them in the home. It鈥檚 not one incident is what I鈥檓 trying to say. It鈥檚 a few put together in order to make the charge.鈥
Second degree harassment is a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and/or a $200 fine. Butler was sentenced to time served.
The cross burning led to calls for the passage of a hate crimes bill which would lead to higher penalties for crimes with discrimination or hate as a motive.
The state legislature has not introduced a hate crimes bill, and South Carolina is one of two states without a hate crimes law. Myrtle Beach and Conway passed ordinances which increase penalties, but only by a maximum increase of 30 days, the maximum penalty a municipality can impose.
The house the two lived in was deemed a nuisance in November by judge William Seals, who issued an injunction on the home, forcing the house to be vacated by Hartnett and Butler until March 2025, though Hartnett鈥檚 mother, who owns the house, was allowed to live there.
鈥淩espondents Worden and Alexis used the property at [address] as a staging ground for the harassment and assault of their surrounding neighbors,鈥 the judge鈥檚 order reads.
Federal charges could be coming. The FBI raided Butler and Hartnett's home in December 2023 and released a press released saying the FBI "executed court-authorized law enforcement activity" at a residence in the neighborhood related to "an ongoing civil rights investigation involving allegations of racial discrimination."
"As this is an ongoing investigation, additional details cannot be provided, but rest assured, we are dedicated to this matter and the civil rights of all Americans," the release reads.
Butler, after pleading guilty to the harassment charge Wednesday, told the media that he was dealing with health issues at the time of the cross burning.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 mean any hate towards my community. Only trying to bring to the light of the matter that I鈥檓 an individual with disability and I have seizures, and it has not been rectified by the court or the state in the matter,鈥 Butler said. 鈥淚鈥檝e made multiple complaints, and the only thing I got from the FBI was 鈥榳e鈥檙e too busy鈥 in the matter. So if anybody that deals with seizures, deals with mental disabilities and feel like nobody is there to help you, this is what happens. You get a guilty plea because they鈥檙e not willing to provide the evidence in the matter.鈥
Hartnett's case is pending.
(1) comment
This man needs to go to jail and be in the general population and learn a lesson from other cultures
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