INVESTIGATION: Justice Served? Inmate Moved After "7 On Your Side" Questions Supervision And Privileges

He's convicted of killing of a young mother while driving drunk. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison. So why was a Chester County inmate enjoying time in the city swimming pool--and working out of a private office at City Hall?

NewsChannel 7's Jonathan Carlson has been investigating for months, and since he started asking questions, state action has been taken.

Here's what Jonathan uncovered in this Seven On Your Side Investigation.

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She was 26 years old--a young mother--about to marry and start a new life.

Tracy White was driving down a Columbia, SC road in June of 2003.

She had never met George Wise, a local auditor, they lived only miles apart.

But the two lives would cross paths around 1:30 in the morning. Tracy was headed home. Wise--driving the wrong way on the interstate.

Troopers say he was drunk when he hit White's car head on. A passenger in the car, seriously injured. Tracy White--dead.

Wise was convicted of Felony DUI. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Hard time for what he took from White and her family. Or--at least thats what her family thought.

Although sentenced to state prison, Wise was sent the Chester County Detention Center. Two counties away from Columbia.

He was classified as a minimum security inmate. The State Department Of Corrections saying he could work outside the prison. As long as he was supervised at all times.

We found Wise, not in jail, but working at Chester City Hall. In his own office--with a private telephone.

(CARLSON on the phone): "Yes hi--who am I speaking to?" (WISE on the phone: "This is George Wise..."

The City Administrator says Wise did internal accounting work for the city. Nothing illegal about putting his skills to work, but here's where his relationship with the city got a little cushier.

We obtained photos of Mr. Wise inside city hall, where he appears to be dancing or exercising with co-workers.

Oh---and there are the pictures of Wise swimming in the pool on a hot day at the city-operated Wylie Park.

The police chief--in charge of his supervision that day says Wise was helping cook at a Junior Cadette Academy event.

But its unclear what cooking Wise was doing in his swim trunks.

The state says inmates like Wise must be working at all times when they are not behind bars.

This raised questions about how much supervision Mr. Wise was really under and whether he was really being punished for the drunk driving death of Tracy White.
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A typical day for George Wise began with the Chester County Sheriff releasing him to city police, who transported him to city hall for work. At five o'clock he was supposed to be walked out with police escort and taken back to jail.

But what happened on the day he was swimming in the pool?

(CARLSON to Chester Police Chief): "What work was he doing inside the pool?" (Michael A. Brown, Chief Of Police, Chester, SC): "He was helping cook--and that's when he got in the pool."

(CARLSON to Chester Police Chief): "Should an incarcerated inmate be recreating like that?" (Michael A. Brown, Chief Of Police, Chester, SC): "They have time for recreation. At this event--that was after the event took place."

(CARLSON to Chester Police Chief): "Should he have not been driven directly back to the jail after doing his work? If he's not working, he's not supposed to be recreating." (Michael A. Brown, Chief Of Police, Chester, SC): "Yes sir."

So what about that constant supervision the state says is supposed to be in place? When we were at City Hall we found Mr. Wise alone in his upstairs office.

(Michael A. Brown, Chief Of Police, Chester, SC): "As far as standing and watching him--we don't do that--no sir."

We did find the City Administrator downstairs who says he and others supervised Wise too.

He called wise a "very valuable asset" to the city, and says the compromising pictures taken of Wise must have been before he took office.

He also says Wise, who not only had a private phone, but also a computer, only had access to data the city gave him.

But you bet the city valued Mr. Wise's experience. Not only has Wise done accounting work for the city---he apparently participated in city council finance meetings. His name appeared on numerous council agendas dating back to 2007.

In fact, the administrator tells us the city Finance Director was one of his many supervisors.
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Wise was a partner in a Columbia accounting firm before his CPA license was revoked after his Felony DUI conviction.

When we walked upstairs at City Hall to talk to Wise, there were no supervisors in sight.

(CARLSON to Wise): "Hi there. Are you George Wise? I'm Jonathan from Channel 7--how are you. I was just hoping to ask you a few questions if you wouldn't mind."

We showed him that picture of him taking a dip in the city pool.

(CARLSON to Wise): "Is that you? We're just wondering what work you were doing for the county or city while you were in the swimming pool?"

Wise politely walked out of his office, confirmed it was him in the photo, and refused to say anything else, walking downstairs, away from our questions.
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The family of Tracy White was still too distraught to even talk about that tragic day.

But for other parents who have lost children to drunk drivers, the story is all too familiar.

"My son was a passenger in a car."

Anne Sellers, who now works with MADD, lost her son to a drunk driver.

"Our state doesn't look at Felony DUI as a violent crime," she said.

She continued, "You go through all the trial--the trauma the pain Then you are slapped in the face. Punched in the stomach by finding out this person is just enjoying themselves."

Leaving the heartbreak for families in cases like this--harder to bear, as they wonder--is justice really being served.
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What we uncovered has resulted in state action. On January 22nd, 2010, years after George Wise began his stay in Chester County, he was moved from the county facility back to state prison in Columbia.

He is now being housed at the Kirkland Correctional Institution.

Wise is scheduled to be released from prison in 2014.

The State Department Of Corrections tells us, they had the State Law Enforcement Division look into the situation, and Corrections decided it was best to move Wise.

In South Carolina, there are about 350 inmates who are serving state sentences and are assigned to county detention centers, with similar work release agreements,like what Mr. Wise had.