Dinah Maria Chollet, owner of The Knot Burger Pub in Summerville, S.C., had her charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor dismissed after a judge ruled there was no probable cause to support her arrest.
What the case involved
- Chollet was accused of joining a student‑run Instagram group called “Summerville Walkout,” which students created to organize an anti‑ICE protest and school walkout planned for February 20.
- Police alleged that she entered the group chat and encouraged students to participate in the walkout, leading to an arrest warrant being filed and her being charged.
Why the judge dismissed the charge
- During the court hearing, the judge concluded that no walkout actually took place, and there was no evidence Chollet encouraged violence or unlawful behavior, which are key elements for the contributing‑to‑delinquency charge.
- Because those elements were missing, the court found insufficient probable cause to justify her arrest, so the charge was dismissed and the case is now closed.
Chollet’s response
- Chollet’s attorney had previously called the charge “unfounded and unsupported by the facts,” saying that a review of the actual evidence—not rumors or social‑media chatter—would show the accusation did not fit the facts.
- After the dismissal, Chollet posted on Facebook confirming the outcome, writing: “All charges: dismissed. If you spoke on it before, feel free to speak on it now at the same volume. I’ll wait.”
