YORK COUNTY, S.C. — Clerks at six York County convenient stores known for selling alcohol to minors were charged Thursday night after agents with the York County Multijurisdictional Drug Unit and State Law Enforcement Division caught them in the act.
York County detectives looked through 18 months of citations this week, and found 25 convenience stores with multiple violations for selling booze to minors.
"We're trying to control underage drinking,” said Marvin Brown, with the York County Drug Enforcement Unit. “Alcohol can kill you. Overdoses, the car wrecks, and these are still teenagers, you know.”
On Thursday, six detectives and two South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) state agents returned to all 25 stores, along with an ordinary teenager. The teen was instructed to buy beer and give a valid ID if asked.
The teen was able to buy alcohol from six of the stores - five in Rock Hill and one in York.
According to incident reports, those cited include:
• Jacob Hoskins, 25, at the County Store on 2090 McConnell’s Hwy. in Rock Hill
• Elizabeth Gainey, 30, at the Little Giant #2 on 1190 S. Anderson Road in Rock Hill
• William Kneeland, 20, at the Quick “C” on 1001 Oakland Ave. in Rock Hill
• Rhonda Williams, 21, at the Kangaroo Express on Cherry Road in Rock Hill
• Jin Joo, 45, at the Corner Stop on 1430 Celanse Road in Rock Hill
• Sue Ellen Belue at the McCray’s Convenience Store on 623 W. Liberty St. in York
In addition to charging the clerks, SLED issued administrative citations against the ABC licenses of each business, Brown said.
Each store was fined $672, and SLED issued administrative citations that could ultimately cost the stores their ABC license.
"It's important for stores to know that we're doing this. It keeps them on their toes," Brown said.
WSOC
