COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – On Friday, several South Carolina Department of Corrections student inmates marked a major accomplishment as they celebrated their graduation from the Columbia International University Prison Initiative.

The prison initiative consists of two years of course designed to prepare inmates for ministry within the prison system. The graduates are enrolled in courses in the Old and New Testament, history, English, and more.

“Graduates of the CIU Prison Initiative step forward every day and make a difference in the lives of their fellow inmates,” SCDC Director Bryan Stirling said. “We are fortunate to be able to offer this degree program at no cost to taxpayers through our continued partnership with CIU.”

The program began in 2007 and today, 13 more graduates earned their degrees. Since its inception, 201 men and women have graduated from the program serving in 21 institutions.

Organizers say they hope that in their roles, the graduates can help improve the culture of the prison population.

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More than a dozen federal inmates convicted in South Carolina were among the nearly 1,500 who had sentences commuted by President Joe Biden on Thursday.

In a move the White House said was the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history, Biden commuted 1,499 sentences and granted 39 pardons for people convicted of non-violent crimes. Two South Carolina women, Denita Parker of Gaffney and Shawnte Williams of Columbia, received pardons.  

The White House said all who received the commuted sentences had been serving the remainder of their sentences at home in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A pardon forgives a crime, while commutations leave the convictions in place but eliminate or reduce a sentence.

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The South Carolina list of people commuted, along with their new set release dates include:

• James Brown, 46, set release date of Feb. 13, 2027
• Sirrico Burnside, 53, set release date of Feb. 20, 2027 
• Benard Clark, 54, set release date of Nov. 06, 2025
• Hendrick Cousar, 45, set release date of March 20, 2028
• Melvin Daniels, 34, set release date of Aug. 16, 2025
• Vernon Edwards, 48, set release date of Oct. 8, 2027
• Antonio Gaddist, 49, set release date of Dec. 24, 2027
• Lidderick Gomez, 30, set release date of Dec. 18, 2026
• Shawn Green, 46, set release date of May 6, 2025
• Frank Hamilton, 47, set release date of July 5, 2025
• James Harper, 51, set release date of March 10, 2025
• Terrence Hodge, 36, set release of date Feb. 7, 2025
• Joseph Dee Jacobs, 46, set release of date Dec. 22, 2024
• Lee Lindsey, 38, set release date of March 28, 2027 
• April Miller, 50, set release date of Dec. 22, 2024
• Devonte Prioleau, 32, set release date of May 25, 2025
•  Gena Randolph, 50, set release date of Jan. 4, 2025
• Flint Randolph, 62, set release date of May 14, 2025
• James Snowden III, 40, set release date of June 11, 2025
• Roderick Strong, 45, set release date of Feb. 11, 2028
• Tara Thompson, 45, set release date of May 1, 2025

PROSPERITY, S.C. (WBTV) – A South Carolina man is facing a federal charge after he allegedly shot and killed a police K-9 over the summer.

Authorities had been attempting to serve a burglary warrant against 37-year-old James Robert Peterson in Newberry County on June 11, according to sister-station WIS.

WIS reported that when law enforcement arrived at Peterson’s mother’s home, the K-9 found him inside. He then was accused of shooting the dog and at authorities. Law enforcement fired back, hitting him.

The dog, a Belgian Malinois mix named “Coba,” died after being taken to an emergency veterinarian. He had been with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) since 2021.

In June, Peterson was charged with cruelty to a police dog, breach of peace, possession of a weapon by a person convicted of certain crimes, resisting arrest with a deadly weapon and four counts of pointing and presenting a firearm at a person.

He is being tried for those crimes at the state level.

Now, six months after the shooting, SLED said Peterson has been federally indicted for being a felon in possession of a gun. He could face up to 15 years in prison on that charge if convicted.

Jail records show Peterson remains in custody as of Dec. 13.

Peterson’s mother, Scarlett Boyd, was also arrested and was charged with hindering law enforcement. According to WIS, she told authorities she had not seen her son when they arrived to serve the initial warrant.

Also Read: Body of missing South Carolina mother found in Charlotte, family says

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