
I graduated from the University of Memphis with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics in 1982 and from the University of South Carolina School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree in 1985. After a brief time in private practice, I began my career as a trial prosecutor at the Fifth Circuit Solicitor's Office in 1987. As an Assistant Solicitor, I prosecuted driving under the influence cases, juvenile court cases, and a wide range of felony cases, including white collar crime, rape, robbery, burglary, felony DUI, drug offenses and murder. In addition to my prosecutorial responsibilities, I served as chief of the drug prosecution division.
My family and I moved to the Grand Strand in 1995, where I served as City Attorney for the City of North Myrtle Beach until 1998. As City Attorney, I both advised the City on a full range of municipal issues and served as the City Prosecutor. In that capacity, I prosecuted all municipal court offenses including criminal domestic violence offenses and driving under the influence charges.
In 1998, I was elected to the office of Solicitor (District Attorney) for the 15th Circuit (Horry and Georgetown Counties) and served in that capacity until 2013. As Solicitor, I managed and directed 25 prosecuting attorneys and oversaw the prosecution of over 100,000 criminal cases. Under my leadership, we established the 15th Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit, the Criminal Domestic Violence Court, the Horry and Georgetown County Drug Courts, and the Worthless Check Unit.
I stepped down as Solicitor in 2013 after being elected to the South Carolina Senate to represent District 28 (Horry and Dillon counties). As Senator for District 28, I serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee as well as the Education, Transportation, Agriculture, and Fish, Game and Forestry Committees. In my career as a litigator, I have personally handled thousands of cases and tried over 250 cases.
I have tried every type of criminal case from routine traffic ticket to death penalty murder, as well as everything in between.
I am licensed to practice in all South Carolina courts and federal courts, including the Federal District Court of South Carolina, the United States Fourth Circuit of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.
In 2013, I joined the firm of Monckton, Hembree and Humphries. I practice civil and criminal litigation including personal injury, wrongful death, workers compensation and criminal defense.