Christopher Garrett Marsh was the Chair of the Florence County District Five Board of Trustees. In 2021, he was arrested and charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a victim under age 11, two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a victim 11 to 14, and two counts of third degree sexual conduct with a minor. The victim was first assaulted in 2015 when she was five and the abuse continued until February 2021. The child’s mother was also arrested and charged with neglect because she was knew about the assault in 2015 and did nothing to protect her child after she was assured it was a one-time thing.
He was sentenced to fifteen years suspended after eleven years in prison. He will be on probation for five years after his release. The mother’s case is sealed. The victim, now 14 years old, spoke at sentencing, telling the judge that Marsh had “ruined her childhood.” She spoke to Marsh saying he hurt her more than he will ever know.
- WPDE: ‘Scum of the earth’: Former Florence Co. school board member headed to prison for sexual conduct with child
- KIRO TV: Ex-school board chief accused of child sex abuse in SC; victim was 5 when abuse began, deputies say
March 5, 2021
