On Tuesday, October 31, 2023, the Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into inappropriate conduct by an employee of the Beaufort-Jasper EOC Head Start program.
Law enforcement officials received a complaint that Holli Hodges, a Head Start staff member assigned to Classroom 2 at Beaufort Elementary School, possessed inappropriate images of children.
Investigators have verified that Hodges possessed at least one image of a child which constitutes a violation of South Carolina law.
Tuesday night, Sheriff’s Investigators seized electronic items belonging to Hodges. The items have been submitted to the South Carolina Attorney General’s office for forensic examination.
An arrest warrant charging Hodges with third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor was obtained on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, from a Beaufort County magistrate. The arrest warrant was served on Hodges, who was already incarcerated at the Beaufort County Detention Center.
This is an active investigation. Additional charges may be forthcoming as the case progresses.