Please file.

Hal Peters

Policy Analyst

Office of Governor Nikki R. Haley

T 803.734.4062

F 803.734.8051

halpeters@gov.sc.gov

From: Matheus, Marilyn [mailto:Marilyn.Matheus@dss.sc.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2016 6:04 PM
To: Peters, Hal
Subject: RE: William A. Smith

Our worker spoke with Mr. Smith last week and our county director, Janice Chapman spoke with him again today. Ms. Chapman staffed the case with the case manager to make certain of what she told Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith informed staff about the private child support action which may have prompted the report. Mr. Smith was also informed of his right to an appeal should the investigation result in a finding against him.

Mr. Smith has a better understand of what is involved in this process.

Please let me know if you need any more information.

Thank you,
Marilyn

Marilyn M. Matheus, Director

Public Information and Media Relations

SC Department of Social Services

P.O. Box 1520

Marilyn.matheus@dss.sc.gov

803-898-7858 phone

Privacy Notice: This message may contain information that is protected from disclosure by federal and/or state law, or is otherwise privileged or confidential. This communication is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited and violations of applicable federal and/or state law may subject you to civil and/or criminal penalties. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone and delete this message

From: Peters, Hal [mailto:HalPeters@gov.sc.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, March 8, 2016 10:29 AM
To: Matheus, Marilyn <Marilyn.Matheus@dss.sc.gov>
Subject: RE: William A. Smith

Thanks!

Hal Peters

Policy Analyst

Office of Governor Nikki R. Haley

T 803.734.4062

F 803.734.8051

halpeters@gov.sc.gov

From: Matheus, Marilyn [mailto:Marilyn.Matheus@dss.sc.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2016 10:29 AM
To: Peters, Hal
Subject: RE: William A. Smith

The Lancaster County office was meeting with Mr. Smith last week. I’ll check with them for feedback from that meeting.

Thanks for checking on this.

Marilyn

From: Peters, Hal [mailto:HalPeters@gov.sc.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, March 8, 2016 10:25 AM
To: Matheus, Marilyn <Marilyn.Matheus@dss.sc.gov>
Subject: RE: William A. Smith

Is there an update on this?

Hal Peters

Policy Analyst

Office of Governor Nikki R. Haley

T 803.734.4062

F 803.734.8051

halpeters@gov.sc.gov

From: Matheus, Marilyn [mailto:Marilyn.Matheus@dss.sc.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2016 11:14 AM
To: Peters, Hal
Subject: RE: William A. Smith

Checking on an update.

From: Peters, Hal [mailto:HalPeters@gov.sc.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, March 1, 2016 11:14 AM
To: Matheus, Marilyn <Marilyn.Matheus@dss.sc.gov>
Subject: RE: William A. Smith

Is there follow-up on this?

Hal Peters

Policy Analyst

Office of Governor Nikki R. Haley

T 803.734.4062

F 803.734.8051

halpeters@gov.sc.gov

From: Matheus, Marilyn [mailto:Marilyn.Matheus@dss.sc.gov]
Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2016 1:07 PM
To: Peters, Hal
Subject: RE: William A. Smith

Hal, I was traveling yesterday and at the hearing this morning. We will check into this.

Thanks,

Marilyn

From: Peters, Hal [mailto:HalPeters@gov.sc.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2016 10:10 AM
To: Matheus, Marilyn <Marilyn.Matheus@dss.sc.gov>
Subject: William A. Smith

What’s the background on this?

Hal Peters

Policy Analyst

Office of Governor Nikki R. Haley

T 803.734.4062

F 803.734.8051

halpeters@gov.sc.gov

HTML

From: "governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com" <governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com>
Date: 2/24/2016 9:09:17 AM
To: "governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com" <governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com>
Cc:
Subject: SCDSS

<APP>CUSTOM
<PREFIX>Mr</PREFIX>
<FIRST>William</FIRST>
<MIDDLE>A</MIDDLE>
<LAST>Smith</LAST>
<SUFFIX></SUFFIX>
<TITLE>Father</TITLE>
<ORGANIZATION>Family</ORGANIZATION>
<ADDR1>885 Bushberry Rd</ADDR1>
<ADDR2></ADDR2>
<CITY>pelion</CITY>
<STATE>SC</STATE>
<ZIP>29123</ZIP>
<EMAIL>wsmith_rcsd@yahoo.com</EMAIL>
<PHONE_H>803-603-4541</PHONE_H>
<PHONE_B></PHONE_B>
<ISSUE>ETHI</ISSUE>
<SUBJECT>SCDSS </SUBJECT>
<CUSTOM1>166.102.91.202</CUSTOM1>
<MSG>
Governor Haley,

First I would like to thank you for your time and service. I am a current Army reservist and O.I.F. combat veteran. I am employed by the Richland County Sheriff's Department and hold the title of shift supervisor (Corporal). On February 18th 2016 I was contacted by SC Department of Social Services case worker Melissa Rathel who informed me that I was under investigation for child abuse and neglect due to a bruise located on my 6 year old daughter's (Morgan) lower back. Mrs. Rathel stated that Morgan said I beat her with a belt and gave her the bruise, however, I noticed the bruise which appeared to be at least 2 days old before any disciplinary or behavioral corrective actions were taken that weekend. My wife can vouch for this. Morgan did receive a (1) light pop with a small portion of a soft Velcro belt for consistently lying but not with enough force to cause injury, especially a bruise!!!!
Yesterday (Feb 23rd) Mrs. Rathel met my current mother, father and brother in law at their home in Lexington where she introduced a safety plan outlining supervised visitation (Morgan's mother and I are divorced). During this visit Mrs. Rathel told me very bluntly that this case was going to conclude with "Affirmative Determination" and that my 10 year Law Enforcement career would be in jeopardy. I would naturally appeal this decision should it truly come about but my question is this. How is it that a loving father with no violent history, arrests, convictions, former social services inquiries or work related excessive force complaints find it possible to inflict bodily injury to his first born, beautiful 6 year old baby girl?! Also, how can DSS find me "Guilty" without at least investigating our relationship for the past 6 years (I.E. Photos, Family/Witness statements, prior complaints of violence Etc.)?
Governor Haley I am a loving father with 3 beautiful children who love me, as they say, to the moon and back. I have an amazing wife who has supported me through constant trials and tribulations dealing with my ex-wife and her attempts to undermine my fatherly duties. I just can't understand how a father, who breaks his own heart in the hopes that disciplining his child with detour her from the dangers of life, could face this fate without any sort of hope. I was told by Mrs Rathel that all she needed was "51%". That doesn't sound like a loving, caring representative of the South Carolina Department of Social Services. Please help me stand up and show that good, law abiding citizens do not have to fear the DSS system as we legally discipline our children in the hope to avoid future detrimental behavior and improve the quality of life here in South Carolina!

Sincerely and Respectfully,

William A Smith

</MSG>

</APP>