Becky Hill, the former Colleton County clerk of court, was sentenced to three years probation. She was convicted of 10 felony offenses including obstruction of justice and perjury. Hill’s original plea gave him credit for a not guilty plea on four charges, which included two counts of misconduct in office. She emailed sealed graphic crime-scene photographs—which were court exhibits—to a photographer. Then, as if the whole charade wasn’t enough, she went on to perjure herself in front of Congress about it.
Over the course of her tenure, Hill funneled almost $10,000 in bonus money from federal funds meant to help states increase their child support collections into her own pockets. She embezzled about $2,000 from her auditee, the clerk of the court’s office. During the high-profile Alex Murdaugh murder trial earlier this year, Hill was criticized and under the microscope. She was charged with many counts of unethical conduct, including holding private discussions with the jury foreperson in the restroom and distributing her business cards to jurors.
Judge Heath Taylor, who originally heard Hill’s case, emphasized the seriousness of her transgressions. He remarked that her sentence could have been significantly more severe had prosecutors established that she tampered with the jury during the Murdaugh trial. That the jury deliberated for just three hours after a Kimono-clad Hill’s likely to have tasked.
Hill’s controversial behavior extended beyond courtroom management. She has been accused of trying to pressure jurors into a quick verdict by refusing to allow smoking breaks during the trial. Author Rona Rich described Hill’s leadership style as “running the Colleton county court with an iron fist deceptively wrapped in the softest silk,” reflecting the duality of her authoritative yet seemingly personable approach.
In court, Hill expressed regret for her actions, stating, “There is no excuse for the mistakes I made. I’m ashamed of them and will carry that shame the rest of my life.”
Judge Taylor made note of the rare prominence around Hill’s case because of its ties to the Murdaugh trial. He pointed out that though so many benefited financially from the trial’s notoriety, Hill wasn’t able to enjoy that fortune. “A lot of boats got swept up in the hoopla that was at that trial,” he stated, emphasizing the chaotic environment surrounding what became one of South Carolina’s most notorious legal battles.