Man mistakenly released from jail after judge signs off on clerical error in sentencing sheet

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — A man recently sentenced on assault charges in Horry County was briefly and mistakenly released from jail because a judge signed off on a clerical error, according to documents obtained by News13.

Ryan Taylor Schneider, 31, was convicted on charges of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, first-degree assault and battery and second-degree burglary. He was arrested on March 31.

Schneider was originally supposed to be sentenced to three years in jail suspended to two years in jail, along with five years of probation. However, initially, the sentencing sheets mistakenly had a two-year jail sentence suspended to three years of probation, meaning he would’ve avoided prison time as long as he didn’t violate his probation.

The Horry County Clerk of Court’s Office confirmed the clerical error was made by Judge David Caraker, who handwrote the sentencing numbers. The source from the clerk of court, who wanted to remain anonymous, said it was a “simple error” and that the issue has since been fixed.

The sentencing sheets are not only signed by Caraker, however. Schneider, the clerk of court, Schneider’s attorney, a representative from the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and a court reporter also signed off on it.

Schneider was released from the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on Tuesday, but was booked back into the jail on Wednesday, where he remains as of this writing, online records show. Schneider was also arrested in September 2023 on a first-degree assault and battery charge.

News13 has reached out to Caraker. As of early Friday evening, we have not heard back.

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