HAMPTON COUNTY — Criminal charges against Amanda N. Padgett, a teacher within the Hampton County School District, were dropped on June 17, 2024. The dismissal followed a preliminary disposition hearing held on June 3. Padgett had been charged with Unlawful Conduct Towards a Child.

Hampton County Court of General Sessions records confirmed the charge was dismissed, and Padgett was not indicted. The charge stemmed from an incident on March 20, 2024, when a student under Padgett's care was left behind on a school field trip.

Police responded on March 20 after reports of a small, school-aged child walking along U.S. Highway 278/Elm Street East near Truist Bank. Town of Estill Police Chief Chauncey Solomon Sr. located the 6-year-old girl and contacted the Hampton Police Department, remaining on the scene until officers arrived. The child was checked by Hampton County Emergency Services and returned to her family.

The Hampton Police Department determined the child had been on a field trip to the Palmetto Theater on Lee Avenue in Hampton. The child was reportedly unaccounted for when the other students returned to Varnville Elementary School, approximately two miles away. The Estill Police Department stated the girl had fallen asleep during the theater performance and awoke to an empty theater, attempting to walk back to school when she was found.

The Hampton Police Department issued a warrant for Padgett's arrest on March 31, and she turned herself in to the department, subsequently being transported to the H.C. Detention Center for booking. Padgett, 33, is a field trip sponsor at Varnville Elementary School. The Hampton County School District placed her on administrative leave shortly after the incident, and on March 23, the district issued a statement acknowledging the situation. The district stated at the time: "There is an ongoing internal investigation occurring within our district."

Why It Matters

This development concerns a criminal charge against a public school teacher following an incident involving student supervision during a school-sanctioned activity. The dismissal of the charge means that the judicial process against Padgett has concluded without a conviction, though the Hampton County School District's internal investigation status is unspecified. The initial incident prompted a police response and an arrest warrant.