Clarendon Clerk of Court Beulah Roberts is warning residents of a new scam involving alleged jury summons bench warrants.
Roberts said Wednesday morning that residents are getting phone calls from individuals saying the victims have been summoned to jury duty, have failed to show up and are going to be arrested unless they pay a specific fine over the phone.
"I got a call (Tuesday) from a gentleman, and I took it as him not really understanding the process at first," Roberts said. "He called us twice, and we assured him both times that we wouldn't do that. This morning we had another individual call. I know this person, and she told me what the caller said. Then, we called the sheriff's office, and they'd had some complaints."
Roberts said the callers say they are from the Sheriff's office and that a bench warrant has been issued by the Clerk of Court.
"That's not even the process we use if someone doesn't show up for court," Roberts said. "I don't issue a bench warrant. The sitting Circuit Court judge does. That's why it's called a bench warrant. It comes from the bench."
Roberts said individuals who ignore a summons for jury duty typically face no more than a visit from a sheriff's deputy.
"I typically give the Sheriff's Office their names, and they would contact them and try to find out why they didn't show up," Roberts said. "Usually the person has a very good reason, even down to they didn't receive the summons. Very rarely would we take someone to jail, and that would be up to the sitting Circuit Court judge."
Roberts said jurors rarely ignore the summons.
"I maybe have one that won't show up here or there, but it's never anything major," she said. "Most of the folks that have called about this scam have been elderly, and if they're a certain age, they don't even have to serve."
Roberts said anyone receiving such calls should contact local law enforcement immediately.
"If they live in Manning, Turbeville or Summerton, they need to call their police departments," she said. "If they live in the county, they need to notify the Sheriff's Office."
The Manning Police Department can be reached at (803) 435-8859. The Summerton Police Department can be reached at (803) 485-4385. The Turbeville Police Department can be reached at (843) 659-2000. The Clarendon County Sheriff's Office can be reached at (803) 435-4414.
