Ex-Atlantic Beach mayor guilty of resisting arrest

CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — A former Atlantic Beach mayor has been convicted of resisting arrest and sentenced to 18 months of probation.

The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reports a jury found Retha Pierce Sturdivant guilty Wednesday. The judge sentenced her to a year in prison, but that sentence will be suspended if she successfully completes probation.

Sturdivant was arrested in December 2007 after she walked away from an officer during an Horry County traffic stop. Sturdivant, who acted as her own lawyer, said she needed to use the bathroom.

After the verdict, Sturdivant, who is black, asked the judge to toss out the verdict because the jury was all white. Judge Steven John pointed out there was a black person on the jury and denied the request.