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2nd victim ID’d
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Teacher released on bond, faces more charges BY TYLER SIMPSON tyler@theitem.com A second victim has been identified in the case of a 31-year-old middle school teacher already charged with sexually assaulting a 13-yearold student. According to reports, Elizabeth Marie Moss was charged with second-degree assault and battery after investigators with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office confirmed MOSS a second victim on Thursday. Moss reportedly assaulted a 14-year-old male victim between Oct. 1-31 of last year, according to Maj. Allen Dailey. As far as identifying witnesses and victims, Dailey said it’s likely interviews will continue well into the next week. “We’ve been absolutely swamped by this. When we interview these people, witnesses or (alleged) victims, another name comes up,” he said. “We have to follow up on each lead and treat them seriously.” Moss appeared before the magistrate’s court Friday and received a surety bond of $150,000 from Judge George Gibson at Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center. Earlier this week, Moss was charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor after an investigation by the sheriff’s office revealed that she allegedly
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PHOTOS BY MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM
Cpl. William Self and his dog, Dina, of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit rest after a short training session on Thursday at the grounds of the sheriff’s office. Dina is in training for tracking work and is the first dog the sheriff’s office has trained itself.
Deputies, dogs work cohesively to form sheriff ’s K-9 Unit BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com Dina, a black-and-tan German shepherd, is friendly, outgoing and extremely curious. She’s also a good tracker, according to her handler, Cpl. William Self. “We just had a successful track with her about two weeks ago,” Self said. A suspect fled from an officer off an interstate after a car chase, he said, a situation that can put a pursuing officer’s life in danger from ambush in South Carolina’s dense woods. “That guy had warrants out of North Carolina for burglary charges, trafficking charges, probation violation charges, and Dina found him in about an hour and 15 minutes,” Self said. He has had Dina for about six months. “She is still in training, but her tracking ability is very good,” he said. “I have a lot of experience with
Dina, a Sumter County Sheriff’s Office K-9, trains by biting Staff Sgt. Robert Reynolds. dogs. I’ve had several dogs, and her tracking ability is what I’d call ‘more than the average dog.’ “It almost comes natural to them. Sometimes they get
off the track, and you have to be able to read the dog. If they are tracking and they get off the track, you have to be able to know that, which is very simple if you have
that kind of experience. In addition to tracking, they also seem to, if you are walking through the woods
SEE PARTNERS, PAGE A7
15 churches registered so far for Prayer Breakfast kickoff BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com Two weeks from now, the theme for the 2014 Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast will be announced. The committee is hosting a free Community Kick-off Luncheon starting at 11:45 a.m. March 7 at the Sumter City Centre, 25 N. Main St. “The program will only be about 15 minutes,” said Chris Moore, chairman of the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast committee. “Mayor (Joe) McElveen will be welcoming everyone. I’ll say a few words as the chairman. We will also show our promotional video (and) be giving them CDs with everything that they will need to help promote this year’s breakfast.”
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of the event. “We are also blessed to have a great mayor that welcomes prayer and realizes that to properly and effectively lead people he needs the wisdom that comes from almighty God,” said the Rev. Al Sims, pastor at Bethesda Church of God. “One of the reasons Sumter is such a great place to live is because we still have praying leadership and praying people. I hope all the lead pastors in our city and county will be a part of and help promote this year’s Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast.” For more information or to register for either event, contact Chris Moore at pastorchrismoore@gmail.com or 774-8665. Reach Jade Reynolds at (803) 774-1250.
The theme will be revealed at this event. Fifteen churches have already registered for the kickoff. “This event is open to all area pastors or their key lay leaders, past sponsors and potential new sponsors,” Moore SIMS said. “Spots are first come. We have half of our slots filled thus far, (and) I’m excited that we have numerous denominations repreMOORE sented.” Conducted in conjunction with National Day of Prayer, this year’s breakfast will be held at 6:30 a.m. May 1 at the
Sumter County Civic Center. The speaker will be Ken Bevel, a retired Marine captain now serving as an associate pastor of assimilation and events at Sherwood Baptist Church in
Albany, Ga. He may be best known for his roles in “Fireproof” and “Courageous.” Tickets for the prayer breakfast are $10 in advance. They will be $12 at the door the day
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Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen speaks at the last annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast in May 2013. This year’s speaker for the event on May 1 will be Ken Bevel. SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO
Partly sunny today and mostly cloudy later tonight. HIGH 68, LOW 39
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