2 soldiers suspended in S.C. beer probe

The South Carolina National Guard suspended two high school recruiters in the case of a cheerleading coach charged with giving students beer and the principal accused of trying to cover it up.

Guard spokesman Tripp Hutto said the soldiers have not been charged but were placed on leave pending the investigation. He would not give further details about the allegations of misconduct or the soldiers' names and genders.

Ware Shoals High School cheerleading coach Jill Moore, 28, resigned last week after she was charged with transfer of alcohol to an underage person and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

On Monday, principal Jane Blackwell, 59, was charged with hindering the Greenwood County sheriff's investigation. Deputies have said Blackwell told the cheerleaders not to speak to anyone about the case.

Blackwell and Moore have denied the allegations.

The soldiers recruited at 13 schools including Ware Shoals and Lander University, Hutto said.

"If the investigation determines that there was wrongdoing on the part of any member or members of the South Carolina National Guard, appropriate action will be taken up to and including court martial and separation from the Guard," the Guard said in a news release.

Ware Shoals is about 80 miles northwest of Columbia.