Crime & Safety

Berkeley Parole Officer Charged in Bribe Investigation

SLED accuses suspect of offering parole release for cash.

A state parole officer working in Berkeley County has been charged with accepting a bribe, according to the State Law Enforcement Division.

Vincent O'Neal Howard of 5097 Ballantine Drive, Summerville, has been charged with "public officials, bribes, influence action of a public employee."
He was arrested and booked at the Hill-Finklea Detention Center on Thursday, according to a SLED release.

Howard, 49, is accused of soliciting a bribe from a parolee in exchange for release from state supervision.

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In an undercover operation, SLED monitored the money exchange Thursday and made the arrest, according to the affidavit.

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