Charges dropped against Cleveland

By Cindy Landrum  

JANUARY 11, 2010 10:09 a.m. (0)

Child pornography charges against former Greenville County Schools attorney Wade Cleveland have been dropped.

Cleveland was charged with 13 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor in September 2007 after school district information technology workers doing routine maintenance discovered nude pictures.

Those charges were dropped last month because prosecutors said they could not prove the males in those pictures were underage.

“From the day of his arrest and for these past two-and-a-half years, Wade Cleveland has adamantly maintained his innocence,” said Cleveland’s attorney, Joe Watson, a former solicitor and circuit judge. “The solicitor’s office is finally admitting, after two-and-a-half years, that this has never been a case of child pornography.”

But Cleveland faces new criminal charges in connection with the case,

The Greenville County Grand Jury last month indicted Cleveland on five counts of second-degree computer crime. The charge carries a maximum penalty of two years and a $20,000 fine per count.

According to the indictments, Cleveland is accused of downloading unauthorized data on the Greenville County school district’s computer system and taking possession of the data by storing it on the school district’s computer servers.

Watson said Cleveland continues to maintain his innocence.

“He continues to deny any wrongdoing,” said Watson, who said Cleveland has fully cooperated with investigators.

Cleveland had been the school district’s attorney for nearly 22 years before he resigned in July 2007, a week after he was placed on administrative leave by Superintendent Phinnize Fisher.

Cleveland also served on the Greenville County Council from 1989 to 2000. He was elected council chairman twice.

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