Former county clerk of court pleads guilty in Charleston federal court

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Former Beaufort County Clerk of Court Elizabeth Mason Smith pled guilty to converting public money for illegal use.

Smith, who now lives in Florence, appeared in federal court in Charleston this week and submitted her guilty plea. 

An earlier hearing's evidence proved that in January 2006, Smith converted at least $68,500 in federal child support money to go towards the judicial salary of a family member who worked for the Beaufort County Drug Court. Naughty, naughty, Ms. Smith!

Smith can look forward to a maximum penalty of a $250,000 fine and/or a 10-year imprisonment.

For the total story, check out Charleston Regional Business Journal's article here.

You can get loads more back coverage on this on our Beaufort site.

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