Anna Lee

zlee@greenvillenews.com

A former probation officer accused of having a sexual relationship with a parolee was arrested Wednesday on misconduct charges, state investigators said.

Heather Simpson Griffith, 30, of Greenwood, was charged with obstructing justice, first-degree sexual misconduct with an inmate or offender and misconduct in office, according to warrants issued by the State Law Enforcement Division.

Griffith was employed with the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services when she engaged in sexual relations with an offender under her supervision between July 8, 2015 and March 14, 2016, warrants allege.

Warrants allege Griffith schemed with the offender to have his probation terminated early by presenting false testimony and documentation to a circuit court judge.

The offender, Christopher Ryan Merck, 33, of Easley, was also arrested in the case and charged with blackmail and obstructing justice.

Merck is accused in warrants of compelling the victim to engage in sexual intercourse against her will and then extorting "items of value to include jewelry, a TV, clothing and gift cards from the victim by threatening to expose her personal failings to her spouse, her employer and the news media."

Merck obstructed justice by enacting a scheme with his probation agent that involved presenting falsehoods to a circuit court judge, warrants allege.

Griffith and Merck were booked into the Anderson County Detention Center.

Merck has since been released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond, jail records show. Griffith was awaiting a bond hearing Wednesday afternoon.