PICKENS – A former Miss South Carolina pageant vice president and executive director was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Thursday after a jury found him guilt on a split verdict.

Joseph “Joey” Pettigrew Sanders IV, of 237 Sanders Rd. in Liberty, was found guilty of a lewd act on a minor after prosecutors say he sexually assaulted a young girl beginning in 2005 and continuing in 2008.

Sanders was on trial for two charges – second degree criminal sexual conduct and lewd act on a child. However, the jury acquitted Sanders on the charge of second degree criminal sexual conduct.

The jury took three hours to deliberate and asked to review the child’s testimony during that time.

Sanders’ attorney, Chief Public Defender John DeJong asked Circuit Judge Edward Welmaker for a new trial saying his client was not guilty. Welmaker denied the request.

Sanders’ co-defendant, Anita Gearhart, who was romantically involved with Sanders at the time of the allegations, was found guilty of unlawful conduct toward a child after prosecutors said she failed to report abuse of the young girl. She was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Gearhart’s attorney, Scott Robinson said he would speak with her on her options to appeal the court’s decision.