Former SC Candidate Greene Enters Pretrial Program

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Former U.S. Senate candidate Alvin Greene of South Carolina has enrolled in a program that will drop a misdemeanor obscenity charge against him if he completes community service and counseling.

Prosecutors said Friday that the unemployed Army veteran is scheduled to begin orientation for the pretrial intervention program at the end of this month. It will take about a year to complete.

The 33-year-old was accused of entering a computer lab at the University of South Carolina and showing a pornographic picture to a female student. Greene says he is innocent but he is grateful to be allowed to enter the program.

Greene was the unexpected winner of South Carolina's Democratic primary to unsuccessfully challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint last year.