MONCKS CORNER, S.C. () – Berkeley County Sheriff, Duane Lewis, announced the arrest of a woman who was charged after a 12-year-old was found in marshland after a jet ski incident.

Anne Lachell Sellers, 53, of Farrell Street in Moncks Corner, was arrested on Tuesday. Sellers is being charged with Unlawful Conduct Towards a Minor.

At approximately 12:30 p.m., Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol, along with the BCSO Dive Team, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, US Coast Guard, the Naval Weapons Station Fire Department and Pimlico Fire Department responded to a water rescue involving a stranded jet ski operator and her juvenile granddaughter. Sellers contacted 911 to advise she was stranded on her jet ski and that her granddaughter attempted to swim back to shore for help.

Multiple marine vessels and drones were deployed to search for the juvenile. The juvenile was located in marshland approximately 600 yards from the boat ramp. She suffered cuts and abrasions to her arms and legs and was transported to an area hospital for treatment and further evaluation.

Preliminary investigations revealed Sellers was originally untruthful during the investigation. Deputies later learned that Sellers and the juvenile took separate jet skis and one of them was not working correctly. When both of them became stranded, Sellers instructed the juvenile to swim back to the boat landing for help. Sellers did so despite hazardous conditions such as strong currents, high winds, and known wildlife threats in the area.

“Careless decisions that endanger the lives of juveniles will not be tolerated, and we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law,” Sheriff Duane Lewis stated. “Not only was this child’s life put at risk, but so were the lives of our first responders who entered dangerous conditions to conduct the rescue. These actions are unacceptable and criminally negligent.”

The South Carolina Department of Social Services was notified of the incident.

Sellers was transported to the Hill-Finklea Detention Center to await a bond hearing.