AG office finds no cause for action in Midlands town councilman investigation
A state investigation into an Irmo town councilman has been closed out, with investigators determining there is no new information to justify reopening a five-year-old accusation of criminal sexual conduct.
A letter from the S.C. Attorney General’s Office to the special agent leading the investigation draws a line under the case involving Town Councilman Gabriel Penfield that was picked up by the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division just before last November’s town election.
“After careful review of your report regarding the above-referenced matter, we have determined there is no new information to change the initial evaluation and decision not to charge,” wrote Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General Heather Weiss. “I am therefore closing our file and will not maintain any records of this case.”
The town of Irmo acknowledged it had received the letter in an emailed statement and declined further comment.
Penfield, a wealth manager and business owner in the town, was the subject of a 2020 Irmo Police Department report alleging a minor had been “sexually abused.” Within a month of the report, the Department of Social Services had concluded the claim was “unfounded,” according to a document sent to Penfield which the councilman shared with The State.
“The investigation/assessment did not produce a preponderance of the evidence that the child is an abused or neglected child,” the DSS report concluded.
Penfield said he also voluntarily took a polygraph test at the time and passed. He believed the matter was closed before he won a seat on the town council in a 2024 special election. He indicated he did not believe it was a coincidence the old police file was revived in local media reports just weeks before the election to a full term on council.
“It was resolved as expected,” Penfield said of the state review to The State. “How can we expect good people to run for office if they’re going to receive friendly fire for doing a good job?”
Irmo police referred the matter to SLED ahead of the election because of Penfield’s role on the town council, a SLED spokesperson told The State at the time. The review came months after Irmo’s former mayor pro tem, Erik Sickinger, resigned after he was arrested and charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor. Charges in that case are still pending.
Even after the accusation got renewed attention, Penfield won re-election in November. He came in second in a six-person field for two at-large seats on the council, with 26% of the vote.
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