ABC Columbia Exclusive: Duncan’s Attorney

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — After months of investigation into hundreds of thousands in missing money from her former place of work and even a guilty plea in federal court, the woman at the center of it all is not talking and her attorney knows why. “On my advice actually, you know one of the problems you run into during an investigation is you don’t want information in the public domain that’s going to affect a jury,” says Greg Harris, Defense Attorney for Rachel Duncan. But he says that did not have any bearing on waiving a jury trial and going ahead with the guilty plea. “She has always known yesterday, that day was coming, just as we know the sentencing sometime this summer will come,” says Harris. He says from day one, Duncan confessed. But Wednesday’s plea came with a deal. According to Harris she is now a federal witness into a case involving online gambling. “She has on a number of occassions been interviewed,” says Harris. While Harris could not go into detail about the investigation he did say his client is and will continue to work with investigators. “We will continue to assist law enforcement in their investigation and prosecution of other individuals,” says Harris. But Harris says her work with federal investigators will not keep her from serving time. “People who steal this kind of money from an employer, go to jail,” says Harris. He also says she’s not blaming anyone but herself. “She has exculpated everyone else in this case including Mr. Sponseller,” says Harris. As for Duncan’s relationship with Sponseller, Harris says she denies an affair. “She and Mr. Sponseller were very close friends, they were close business associates, he had hired her and he had been her boss for approximately 12 years and they had grown close,” says Harris. However, hew woould not comment on pictures prosecutors say they found of Duncan on Sponseller’s computer. “I don’t want to get into anything having to do with those matters,” says Harris. Harris also says Racheld Duncan suffers from a severe gambling addiction and that some of the gambling took place on her work computer at the South Carolina Hospitality Association and at her home. Duncan faces up to 23 years in prison and $350,000 in fines.