Former Allendale councilman goes to prison for sexually assaulting 12 year old

Image: 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office

14th Circuit Solicitor's Office

Allendale, SC (WOLO) — A former councilman for the town of Allendale is behind bars for sexually assaulting a 12 year old relative. According to the 14th  Circuit Solicitor’s Office who prosecuted the case Monday say 56 year old Earl Morell plead guilty to Third Degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. A lesser charge that he was able to plead down to with the victim’s consent.

According to prosecutors, the incident took place while the child was at Morell’s Jones Street home attending a sleepover back in March of 2021. Months after the incident took place, prosecutors say Morell called the victim’s parents and admitted to sleeping with child in the middle of the night. During that call he also encouraged the parents to have the little girl medically examined.

Hunter Swanson Simmons of the 14 th Circuit Solicitor’s Office who prosecuted the case released a statement about the incident saying,

What was supposed to be a fun and carefree sleepover with friends quickly turned into a

nightmare for this child,”….“This assault was traumatizing and continues to haunt this girl.
“With an active prison sentence, Mr. Morell is being held responsible for his actions. I hope it
also brings healing and a sense of safety for his victim.”

In October of last year Gov. Henry McMaster signed an executive order suspending Morell for “moral
turpitude.”

Morell has been sentenced to five years, suspended to two years
plus three years’ probation. He also will be placed on the state’s sex-offender registry, and a
permanent restraining order forbidding contact with the victim was issued.