Moncks Corner, S.C. – Former Berkeley County detention deputy Avery Smith has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple assault and misconduct charges involving nine victims at the Hill-Finklea Detention Center.
Solicitor Scarlett Wilson confirmed that Smith pleaded guilty to:
Four counts of first-degree assault and battery
Five counts of third-degree assault and battery
Two counts of misconduct in office
Judge Roger Young handed down the maximum 10-year sentence, ordering all charges to run concurrently.
Wilson commended Sheriff Duane Lewis for taking immediate action after victims came forward, stating, “That, coupled with the judge’s maximum sentence, is important vindication for the victims who suffered at the hands of a serial harasser.”
Details of the Crimes
In June 2024, an inmate reported that Smith pulled her from the booking area into a private room, telling her there were no cameras and propositioning her for sex. When she refused, he returned her to the booking area but later grabbed her hands and placed them on his genitals.
Following her report, eight more women came forward with similar allegations, detailing multiple instances of assault by Smith. One victim, a fellow officer, claimed he coerced her into sexual acts by threatening to withhold training approvals.
Other Officers Under Investigation
Two other former detention officers, Sgt. Christopher Dozier and Lt. Frankie Snider, were also charged with misconduct in office for allegedly failing to act on reports of Smith’s behavior. Their cases are still pending.
