Columbia area tax franchises accused of filing false returns
WIS reports that three Liberty Tax Service franchises in Columbia are being sued by the US Justice Department for allegedly filing false tax returns. The suit would shut down the franchises in question, all owned by Christopher Paul Haynes of Irmo. The suit was filed in the US District Court for South Carolina on Monday. The average discrepancy per tax return was $3,834 since 2010.
— Compiled by Mary Ramsey, News Editor
Developer purchases 16 acres of old downtown mental heath facility land
Greenville developer Bob Hughes has purchased the remaining land that once made up the Hall Psychiatric Institute in Columbia, The State reports. Hughes reportedly paid $3.6 million for the 16 acre swath of land, and he had previously purchased 181 acres of the former Bull Street mental health campus. The total purchase price for the land is said to be upwards of $18.6 million. Hughes has said he plans to construct residential, retail and office communities on the land that will border Columbia's new professional baseball stadium.
— Compiled by Mary Ramsey, News Editor
Summerville sexual assault suspect released on bail
The Post and Courier reports that the suspect in a series violent sexual assaults in the Summerville area has been released on bail. Thomas Michael Powell faces up to 120 years in prison if convicted of charges ranging from kidnapping to first-degree criminal sexual conduct and intent to commit first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Summerville Police had faced criticism for withholding information on the assaults and the suspect from the public in this case.
— Compiled by Mary Ramsey, News Editor