Woman charged with sex at SC children’s home

WALHALLA, S.C. (AP) — A woman charged with supervising children at an Oconee County children’s home has been charged with having sex with one of them.

Deputies say 27-year-old Candice Elise Smith of Taylors was charged Monday with three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor. Authorities say Smith had sex with a 14-year-old boy at one of the residential cottages at the Tamassee (tah-MAH-see) DAR School.

It wasn’t clear if Smith had an attorney.

School CEO Dean Bare says Smith was a teaching parent, meaning she lived in a cottage with children and served as a surrogate parent.

Bare says Smith was suspended without pay during the investigation and has now been fired.