HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) – A judge granted a temporary injunction against a Conway-area couple accused of burning a cross, and now the property owner is requesting that it be altered.
Judge William H. Seals, Jr. signed the order on March 27, with it taking immediate effect. The order bans Worden Butler and Alexis Hartnett from entering the home they lived at on Corbett Drive for one year.
The order also bans Janet Butler, Worden’s mother who owned the property, from entering the home without permission from Horry County Police Department Capt. Danny Furr or Chief Joe Hill.
Hartnett and Butler are accused of multiple incidents and police calls dating back nearly three years involving neighbors. Those calls include several different reports of alleged harassment and threats.
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On April 5, Janet Butler filed paperwork asking for the court to alter the conditions of the temporary injunction to allow the property to be released to her.
“Respondent has already testified under oath that the resident parties are no longer occupying the property and she concedes the property must be kept in accordance with all applicable state laws and ordinances,” the documents filed read.
The solicitor’s office is now asking the court to deny Janet’s request.
On April 19, the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office responded to Butler’s motion in opposition stating a list of reasons including Butler’s lack of good faith ability to keep Worden and Alexis off the property.
The solicitor’s office stated in its response that getting permission from Furr or Hill to be on the property is a safeguard to help police keep track of when she is and isn’t on the property.
Furr testified that Butler’s promises about Alexis and Worden being off the property are promises he’s heard before and the pair always returned to the home.
The opposition from the solicitor’s office also stated that since the temporary injunction took effect on April 7, neighbors should be given more time before the property is released back to Butler.
If the court does allow the temporary injunction to be altered, the solicitor’s office asks that Butler be required to pay all costs of the nuisance action, pay the bond for the full value of the property, and continue to keep Worden and Alexis off the property.
As of now, the order will expire in one year “or when a final order on the merits is entered, whichever comes first.”
Judge Seals will decide if he will allow for the alterations or keep his original ruling. There is no timeline for when that decision could be made.
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