Charges dropped for Fort Mill agent accused of damaging signs

By Toya Graham

FORT MILL -- A Fort Mill Realtor who officials contend damaged a former-employee-turned-competitor's sign no longer faces a criminal charge.

The York County 16th Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office has dropped a charge of malicious damage to personal property against Daniel L. LaFranca of JAV Real-estate Connection.

�I just want people to understand who I am as a person,� LaFranca said.

�I am an honest, normal person.�

The charge was dropped after LaFranca participated in an intervention program, according to the State Law Enforcement Division.

�This is not an omission to guilt,� LaFranca said. �I did what I had to do to clear my name.�

The incident in question occurred last March when Realtor and former employee Art Mullen's sign was damaged, according to several documents obtained from the solicitor's office.

Those documents note that LaFranca's malicious damage charge was disposed last month. LaFranca asked for the charge to be expunged, paving the way for all related records to be destroyed.

Deputy Assistant Solicitor Willy Thompson of the 16th Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office said he could not comment.

At issue was a competitor's sign that LaFranca allegedly was caught cutting down.