(Columbia-AP) July 29, 2005 - Will Folks says he will plead guilty to a domestic violence charge after the governor commented on his case, calling it a "very stupid and tragic mistake."

Will Folks had resigned from his position effective August First. He says Friday night that after reading the governor's comments to The Associated Press about his case that he will forgo a jury trial and request pretrial intervention.

Someone accepted into such a program could be required to perform community service, and take other steps, such as counseling or paying restitution, in exchange for clearing the first-time offender's record.

The governor said that while he had called to check on Folks, he could in no way condone "wrong behaviors." Sanford told The Associated Press that he and outgoing spokesman Will Folks have been through a lot over the years, but that the behavior that led to his arrest was, "flat out unacceptable."

A week after Folks was arrested, he denied accusations that he shoved his fiancee, Ashley Smith, into furniture at their home during a heated argument early July 21st in their upstairs hallway.

Folks says he is not a violent person and he didn't know that Smith was hurt when he left the home.

A police report said Smith did not want to prosecute Folks, but the state has a no-drop policy for domestic violence cases. Her attorney has previously said she was "badly bruised" on her back and right arm and leg.

Smith has a restraining order against Folks and he is not allowed any kind of contact with her.

Two days before he was charged, Folks had announced he was leaving the Republican governor's office to run his own political consulting business.

Later, Folks said he wanted to put the incident behind him and not cause any more unnecessary suffering.

Posted 12:08am by Chantelle Janelle