S.C. to N.C. criminals: Don't cross the border

FORT MILL, S.C. -- It's an educational campaign of sorts. The target audience is Charlotte criminals.

The York County Sheriff's office wants potential bank robbers, murderers and rapists to know that York County's jail and legal system is not understaffed like the Mecklenburg County system.

There's a new billboard flashing on Interstate 77 at the Carowinds exit that says, "Don't cross the line. Some criminals think York County is a nice place to visit, but they wouldn't want to live here."

The sign then shows mug shots of Charlotte-area criminals who committed crimes and got caught in South Carolina.

The sign is strategically placed at the North Carolina-South Carolina line because York County Sheriff Bruce Bryant calls that stretch of I-77 one of the busiest crime corridors in York County.

"They think this freeway sitting here is their freeway back to freedom," says Bryant.

But not anymore thanks to a new law on the books.

Bryant explains, "We want the criminals of North Carolina, especially the Charlotte and Gaston County areas to understand, these guys will chase you back into North Carolina. There's no boundary for us anymore."

And York County Solicitor Kevin Brackett reminds criminals that getting caught for a South Carolina crime can mean a higher bond, stiffer penalties and longer sentences.

"This isn't Mecklenburg County," says Brackett. "In South Carolina, York County in particular we have the resources, the funding and the will to punish violent criminals severely."

That's the message of the "Don't Cross the Line" billboard campaign. It features mug shots of criminals like Johnell Porter.

"Mr. Porter started robbing banks in the 1970s," says Brackett. "He had multiple bank robbery convictions from North Carolina."

Then in December 2006, Brackett says, Porter robbed a Lake Wylie bank and by July 2007, Porter was sentenced to life.

Brackett says, "He was taken into custody, and he was never released, and will not be released until he's dead."

The owners of Plaza Fiesta are donating the use of their sign and the sheriff's department will be changing the criminals on there periodically. Also residents of York County can make suggestions of what the message should say.