Charleston County Department of Social Services v. Serena B. and Gerald B.

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 239(d)(2), SCACR. THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA In The Court of Appeals Charleston County Department of Social Services, Respondent, v. Serena B. and Gerald B. Defendants, Of Whom Gerald B. is the Appellant. In the interests of three minor children. Appeal From Charleston County Jeffrey Young, Family Court Judge Unpublished Opinion No. 2008-UP-606 Submitted November 3, 2008 – Filed November 6, 2008 AFFIRMED Stanley C. Rodgers, of Charleston, for Appellant. Frampton Durban Jr., of North Charleston, for Respondent. Suzanne E. Groff, Guardian Ad Litem. of Charleston. PER CURIAM: Gerald B. appeals from the family court’s order finding the pendency of his application for post-conviction relief does not authorize him to attack the facts underlying the offenses to which he pled guilty. We affirm pursuant to Rule 220(b), SCACR, and the following authorities: Doe v. Doe, 346 S.C. 145, 149, 551 S.E.2d 257, 259 (2001) (stating the burden of proof in a criminal proceeding is much higher than the burden of proof in a civil proceeding); State v. Allen, 261 S.C. 448, 451, 200 S.E.2d 684, 686 (1973) (asserting a plea of guilty is an admission of guilt that is as conclusive as the verdict of a jury); S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-430 (Supp. 2007)[1] (requiring any person residing in South Carolina, who pleads guilty to specified criminal sexual offenses, to register as a sexual offender); S.C. Code Ann. § 20-7-490(2)(b) (Supp. 2007)[2] (“‘Child abuse or neglect,’ or ‘harm’ occurs when the parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the child’s welfare . . . engages in acts or omissions that present a substantial risk that a sexual offense as defined in the laws of this State would be committed against the child . . . .”); S.C. Code Ann. § 20-7-650(L)(1) (Supp. 2007)[3] (requiring the court to enter a person’s name in the Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect when it finds by a preponderance of evidence that the person physically or sexually abused a child). AFFIRMED.[4] HEARN, C.J., SHORT and KONDUROS, JJ., concur. [1]Amended by Act No. 335, 2008 S.C. Acts 3311, which added provisions to address registration requirements for pardoned sex offenders. [2]Repealed by Act No. 361, 2008 S.C. Acts 3623, which created Title 63 and transferred provisions from Chapter 7, Title 20 to Title 63. [3]Repealed by Act No. 361, 2008 S.C. Acts 3623, which created Title 63 and transferred provisions from Chapter 7, Title 20 to Title 63. [4]We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.