Recruiters suspended in student-beer probe

updated 8:25 p.m. ET Jan. 24, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The South Carolina National Guard suspended two high school recruiters in the case of a cheerleading coach charged with giving students beer and the principal accused of trying to conceal it.

Guard spokesman Tripp Hutto said Wednesday the soldiers have not been charged but were placed on leave pending the investigation. He would not give further details about the allegations of misconduct or the soldiers' names and genders.

According to an affidavit from the Greenwood County sheriff's office, the principal knew the cheerleading coach was "participating in a sexual relationship" with a National Guardsman.

Ware Shoals High School cheerleading coach Jill Moore, 28, resigned last week after she was charged with transfer of alcohol to an underage person and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

On Monday, principal Jane Blackwell, 59, was charged with hindering the Greenwood County sheriff's investigation. Deputies have said Blackwell told the cheerleaders not to speak to anyone about the case.

Blackwell and Moore have denied the allegations.

Coach a member of school board
Moore, a school board member who is married with two children, has been devastated by the allegations, said her attorney, W. Townes Jones.

"She really is very emotionally affected," Jones said. "She's is a fragile young lady that is going through a lot right now."

Roxie Propst, 52, has a daughter on the varsity cheerleading team.

"It just kind of makes you sick on your stomach because you send your kids to school thinking they're going to be safe," Propst said.

The soldiers recruited at 13 schools, including Ware Shoals and Lander University, Hutto said.

"If the investigation determines that there was wrongdoing on the part of any member or members of the South Carolina National Guard, appropriate action will be taken up to and including court martial and separation from the Guard," the Guard said in a news release.

Ware Shoals is about 80 miles northwest of Columbia.

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