Ex-clerk of court linked to Murdaugh trial pleads guilty to charges, won’t serve prison time
CALHOUN COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) - The former Colleton County clerk of court who oversaw the highly-publicized Alex Murdaugh double murder trial was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to four state charges from her arrest earlier this year.
Becky Hill faced state charges of misconduct in office, obstruction of justice and perjury.
Inside a Calhoun County Courthouse, complete with Christmas decor, Circuit Judge Heath Taylor said Hill humiliated herself throughout this process, but said she avoided prison time because she took accountability.
“Your honor, I respectfully ask for the opportunity to continue supporting my family and to work every day to rebuild the trust that I have broken,” Hill said prior to receiving her punishment.
She was sentenced to three years of probation and must serve 100 hours of community service.
“Good luck to you, ma’am,” Taylor said to Hill.
MORE COVERAGE: WATCH: Becky Hill talks role during Murdaugh Trial in 2023 interview
Hill rose to prominence for her role during the Murdaugh trial. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson praised her professionalism after she read the jury’s verdict.
Wilson selected 11th Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard to serve as special prosecutor handling this case. He walked through the charges against Hill.
Hill pleaded guilty to two misconduct in office charges for taking more than $11,000 in bonuses and promoting her book on the Murdaugh trial, “Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders,” through her public office.
She came to court on Monday with a check in that amount to pay back the money.
“You cannot monetarily benefit from your elected position,” Hubbard said.
The obstruction of justice charge stems from a state investigation. Evidence revealed she showed sealed crime scene photos from the Murdaugh trial to members of the press.
She then lied about it under oath at Murdaugh’s retrial hearing in January of last year, leading to a perjury charge.
Former South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal presided over that hearing and had a strong rebuke of Hill’s conduct at the time.
“I find the Clerk of Court is not completely credible as a witness,” Toal said. “Mill Hill was attracted by the siren call of celebrity.”
Hill’s attorney, Will Lewis, asked for grace from the judge.
“No one can come in this courtroom and say that Miss Hill, a 58-year-old grandmother, a mother, has been employed her whole life, helps almost every single day with one of her special needs grandchildren, taught herself sign language to help people, including her goddaughter, served her community and continues to do up to today, is at any risk of reoffending,” Lewis said.
Hill apologized during the hearing for disgracing her office.
“There is no excuse for my mistakes,” she said. “I am ashamed of them, and I will carry that shame with me for the rest of my life.”
Taylor said the sentence would have been much harsher had the state been able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she had tampered with the Murdaugh jury, as Murdaugh’s defense team alleges.
Hubbard said his team looked into it but could not substantiate the claims, citing conflicting juror statements.
At the January 2024 hearing centered around the jury tampering allegations in the Murdaugh case, Toal said any improper contact Hill had with jurors did not lead directly to Murdaugh’s conviction.
One of Murdaugh’s attorneys, Dick Harpootlian, said the guilty plea is not surprising.
“If Becky admittedly perjured herself in the jury tampering hearing held by Judge Toal, what else could she have lied about?” Harpootlian said.
When Hill was accused of plagiarism by her co-author, Neil Gordon, in December 2023, they stopped all printing of the book.
She also resigned her position as clerk.
Murdaugh’s appeal is set to go before the South Carolina Supreme Court in February.
Watch Monday’s full hearing below:
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