Aug. 28--The owner of two local computer chains was released from jail Tuesday after being booked on a computer crime charge, according to the J. Reuben Long Detention Center's Web site.

Robert James Hussey, 27, owner of Computer Inferno in Socastee and Seaside Computers in Conway and Surfside Beach, was arrested by officers with the 15th Judicial Circuit solicitor's office and charged with a second-degree computer crimes act valued at $1,000 or less, Senior Solicitor Jimmy Richardson said.

The charge, which is a misdemeanor and could result in up to a year in prison, stemmed from 2007. A woman took her laptop to Seaside Computers to be repaired on Nov. 30, but it was never returned, and she could not get in touch with Hussey or others at the store about the computer, Richardson said.

The chain has been under fire for business practices that consumers say have left hundreds of them without computers, laptops or parts. In the past 36 months, at least 165 complaints have been filed with the Better Business Bureau of Coastal Carolina against Seaside Computers and 93 complaints against Computer Inferno. The solicitor's office also received complaints.

On June 9, the Microsoft Corp. filed a civil lawsuit against Hussey and the two computer chains, saying they illegally copied its software onto computer systems without purchasing the programs.

The civil lawsuit against Seaside Computers, Computer Inferno and Hussey is part of a nationwide crackdown by Microsoft on companies it says repeatedly pirated its software.

Hussey, who purchased the chain about two years ago, has said he was unaware of any pirating occurring in his stores.

Hussey was charged with breach of trust with fraudulent intent in April and is awaiting trial on that charge.

Staff writer Tonya Root contributed to this report.

Contact JENN PARKER at 444-1702.

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