Summerville Probation Officer Charged with Bribery

A Summerville man, serving as a probation officer, has been charged with bribery after law enforcement says he solicited a bribe for releasing an offender of supervision.

Vincent O'Neal Howard was booked Thursday afternoon in Berkeley County and charged with public officials, bribes, influence of action of a public employee. He will be prosecuted by the Ninth Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office. The warrant describes the investigation as an undercover operation.

Howard works as a probation officer for S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services in Moncks Corner.

According to the warrant, on Oct. 23, Howard allegedly solicited an offender for money in exchange for the offender's release of supervision. The warrant says the offender delivered the money Thursday, prior to Howard's arrest.

The investigation was made through SLED and S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services.