| Aiken legislative worker arrested AIKEN - The office manager for Aiken County's legislative delegation was placed on administrative leave Tuesday after her arrest last week on a charge of misdemeanor shoplifting. Mae Frances Carroll, who fields constituent phone calls for the county's state senators and representatives and handles administrative duties at the delegation's Richland Avenue office, was arrested at the Aiken Wal-Mart on June 27 and spent a night in the Aiken County Detention Center, according to police and jail reports. An incident report said a loss prevention officer at the store watched Ms. Carroll conceal various pedicure items valued at $30. She was stopped after buying several other items in the checkout lane but failing to pay for the concealed items, according to an Aiken Department of Public Safety incident report. She was released from jail the next day on $1,087 bond. Ms. Carroll, 55, answered the phone at the legislative delegation's offices Tuesday afternoon but said she could not comment on her arrest, saying she would call back. Later in the day, Rep. Roland Smith, the chairman of Aiken County's legislative delegation, placed her on unpaid administrative leave from the county-funded office. Mr. Smith said he was informed by Ms. Carroll of the charge Friday and made the decision to suspend her late Tuesday, the day she returned to work after the Independence Day holiday. He said he would be sending out a letter today to inform members of the delegation about her suspension. She has worked for the delegation for at least three years, he said. "It's regrettable,'' Mr. Smith said, adding he was "devastated" by Ms. Carroll's arrest. "She's a fine lady,'' he said. State Rep. Skipper Perry, R-Aiken, learned of Ms. Carroll's arrest from a reporter Tuesday afternoon. "She'd be the last person I'd suspect of something like that,'' Mr. Perry said. Mr. Perry said legislators would have to look into what policies might govern the employment of a legislative aide, but added, "If she did it and is convicted, I'm sure the policy will be she'll have to find new employment."
Reach Stephen Gurr at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or stephen.gurr@augustachronicle.com.
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