SLED not probing allegations against ex-prosecutor

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — State police are not investigating allegations that a former South Carolina prosecutor abused several boys while he was their Boy Scouts leader decades ago.

State Law Enforcement Division spokesman Thom Berry said Wednesday the agency is not currently probing the accusations against Jay Hodge.

Two weeks ago, two brothers sued Hodge, accusing him of sexually molesting them in the 1970s and 1980s. A third plaintiff joined the lawsuit last week.

The current solicitor asked state prosecutors to handle any future case since he and Hodge worked together. Attorney General Alan Wilson referred the case to SLED.

Hodge was chief prosecutor in four counties for a dozen years until deciding not to run again in 2008. He has denied the allegations.

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Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP