Latest news with #ChuckWright
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Some Spartanburg Co. deputies were sworn in incorrectly, interim sheriff realizes
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – When Jeffery Stephens was sworn in last week as Spartanburg County Sheriff, he noticed something was missing from the oath which he was required to recite. Some deputies had been sworn in incorrectly by leaving out part of the oath they're required to recite. Every deputy in South Carolina has to take two oaths. One is found within the South Carolina Constitution. The other is found in the South Carolina Code of Laws. Reciting the two oaths is part of their duty to obey and enforce laws fairly. A spokesperson said the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office noticed, under former Sheriff Chuck Wright, some deputies were incorrectly sworn in because some words were missing in the code of laws. Spartanburg Co. Sheriff Chuck Wright resigns, cites 'recent health diagnosis' Brandi Hinton, an attorney at Ellis Hinton Law said not stating the full oath and proceeding could lead to problems with the arrests made by those deputies. 'Certainly is the right of a defendant to have a deputy arrest them that is properly sworn because that is what the constitution and the state statues say,' Hinton said. Hinton said it'll be at the discretion of the defendants impacted and their attorneys on how they handle this. How many cases may be impacted is unknown at this time. Hinton said she thinks it will be used as a negotiation tactic. However, she believes a case dismissal would be extremely difficult. 'It is really a case specific decision,' Hinton said. 'It is a strategy decision by the particular defense attorney and defendant that they will make jointly.' Hinton said this issue has happened before in South Carolina. She says it's uncommon but it's also happened at our nation's highest level. Community, law enforcement react to Sheriff Chuck Wright's resignation 'When President Obama was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts, that oath was actually administered incorrectly and Chief Justice John Roberts went to the White House and corrected it later that same day,' Hinton said. In a Greenwood County case heard by the South Carolina Supreme Court where deputies were improperly sworn in, justices ruled the case would not be dismissed. 'The Court of Appeals opinion is broader in that it also evaluated the status of the deputies,' a spokesperson for the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office explained. 'It provides that the deputies are at least 'de facto deputies' and that actions taken consistent with their position as a deputy are lawful.' 'Simply because you have this issue, it doesn't mean that you necessarily can't be prosecuted for what they arrested you for,' Hinton said. Hinton, a former federal and state prosecutor who has worked thousands of cases as both a prosecutor and defense attorney, said it is something the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office might see brought up in court. 'At any point, the Supreme Court can take up another issue or they can say this issue is different from the one we heard back in 2016,' Hinton said. 'They are very similar, so the court will look to that opinion in making their decision but certainly they can raise that issue at any time.' The sheriff's office said Sheriff Stephens corrected the issue this week and has since sworn in the deputies – again – with the full service oath. Cases that could be impacted are only cases handled by deputies between the time they were sworn in under former Sheriff Chuck Wright and re-sworn in on Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Spartanburg County corporal announces run for sheriff in special election
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) — Though an exact timeline regarding the special election for the seat of Spartanburg County Sheriff remains unknown, one former corporal has plans to run for sheriff. The announcement comes after former Sheriff Chuck Wright sent Governor Henry McMaster a letter of resignation on Friday. Wright cited a recent health diagnosis as the reason for his departure. Nick Duncan, a Laurens County native, worked as a paramedic with Spartanburg County EMS before he joined the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office in 2014. He announced a run for sheriff in March 2024, but lost the primary election in June. Spartanburg Co. Sheriff exchanges words with former deputy in candidate forum Duncan previously said that if elected, he would focus on drug issues impacting the county, as well as working on community relations and transparency in the office. Spartanburg Co. Council reacts to Sheriff Chuck Wright's resignation In an interview with 7NEWS, Duncan said he was not expecting Wright's resignation. 'That came as a complete shock,' he said. Duncan encouraged voters to decide what they want from their elected leaders. 'Just look at everybody, figure out what you want from your elected officials, and what beliefs most align with yours and make a good, educated decision.' Duncan continued. You can watch Duncan's official campaign announcement in the video player below: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Community, law enforcement react to Sheriff Chuck Wright's resignation
SPARTANBURG CO., S.C. (WSPA) – Former Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright has resigned just days after he returned to office from a seven week leave of absence. Spartanburg County Council members confirmed Wright's resignation. One resident said that while he is shocked to hear the news, he feels it needed to happen. 'If he's resigning for medical reasons, I hope he gets better, but I do kind of find that to be a bit of a bogus or a scarecrow excuse, given that everything has come out against him,' a man said. In the months leading up to Wright's announcement on Friday, he was in the hot seat after being accused of hiring his son and spending taxpayer dollars using a county credit card without reason. Council said that $1,100 was paid back. 'He really disappointed me with everything that I heard about him,' a man said. Wright said in his resignation letter addressed to the governor that he is resigning because of a recent health diagnosis as his reason for resigning. Governor Henry McMaster has appointed current Cherokee County Sheriff's Office chief deputy Jeffrey Stephens to serve as interim Spartanburg County Sheriff. 'Obviously it's a loss for us, but he's one county over, and he's a resident of Spartanburg,' said Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller. 'He's lived there most of his life. He's still available if we need him and we will elevate someone into the chief deputy's role at the sheriff's office next week. We'll continue business as usual here.' Stephens shared a statement, saying he's 'honored to accept the role.' 'I look forward to working alongside our deputies, staff, and community leaders to build upon the strengths of this office and ensure a safe and secure future for all who call Spartanburg County home,' Stephens added. Sheriff Mueller said with Stephens' 43 years of experience in law enforcement, he's more than qualified. 'First and foremost, the men and women at the sheriff's office will be in great hands and the citizens of Spartanburg County. They'll be in great hands,' Mueller continued. 'He knows what it takes to run a sheriff's office with his extensive career in law enforcement. He's seen pretty much everything that you could possibly see,' said Mueller. Stephens will serve until a new sheriff is decided though a special election set to be held later this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Spartanburg Co. Council reacts to Sheriff Chuck Wright resignation
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – Spartanburg County Council Chairman Manning Lynch said he received a phone call from the South Carolina Attorney General's office Friday morning, alerting him that Sheriff Chuck Wright had resigned. After returning from a seven week long leave of absence for 'unspecified medical reasons' just three days ago, Wright sent Governor McMaster a letter of resignation and turned in his badge. Councilman Monier Abusaft explained the county has mixed feelings about his resignation. 'There's a lot of mixed feelings,' Abusaft said. 'There are people who have long felt that the sheriff's office wasn't appropriately ran and had their feelings about Chuck Wright, but there's a lot of people in this county who have strong feelings that are positive for the Sheriff.' 'I mean, until very, very recently he was clearly the most popular Republican elected official in our county,' Abusaft continued. Wright has been the sheriff since he was elected in 2004. However, over the past few months, many of his actions have been called into question including the hiring of his son, Andrew Wright, and spending more than $53,000 on a public credit card. 7News was told that only $1,100 was paid back. Spartanburg Co. Sheriff Chuck Wright resigns, cites 'recent health diagnosis' 'It has been hard. Obviously, the sheriff's department is a big part of running a county, and you know nobody would wish for what we just went through,' said Lynch, who was the first to be notified. 'Citizens feel like they've been cheated out of a sheriff for the last six to eight weeks, whatever it's been, and we have answered to the people, but it's been a lot of 'I can't say right now.' It'll just be nice that we've passed that stage and we kind of know what the path forward is going to be,' Lynch added. Friday afternoon, Governor Henry McMaster appointed the current Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Jeffery Stephens to serve as the replacement until a special election is held later this year to replace his position. 'We're glad to be moving in that direction, in the direction of certainty, just a better place to be than where we've been,' said Lynch. Abusaft said it has been frustrating, especially as the public safety chairman, not to be completely transparent with the public, but promises a bright future is ahead for Spartanburg County. 'I mean this is hour one, day one of the end of an era of law-enforcement in Spartanburg County,' Abusaft said. 'There's going to be a much more forceful relationship from our side with the sheriff's office. There will be a fine-toothed comb and a philosophy with the request for money and what their leadership is telling us until we can rebuild trust in them.' Abusaft estimated that in the next two months, council will be able to talk freely. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
23-03-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Southern Miami-Dade businesses shuttered by brush fire reopen as Florida Florida Service works on containment
The brush fire burning in southern Miami-Dade County didn't cancel the NASCAR race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway this week, but it did force some small businesses to close down for a few days. Card Sound Road and businesses nearby had been boarded up due to the flames that have flared up since Tuesday . As of Sunday evening, the fire has burned 26,719 acres and 80% contained. Chuck Wright and his wife Lori are driving down to Key West. They are glad they have an open road to drive there. Over the past week, both US-1 and Card Sound Road were intermittently closed off due to the brush fire. "We were coming down one way or the other," said Chuck Wright. "We might have to stay in our truck but here we are." They said they're the first two customers to go to Alabama Jack's in the last five days. The bar and restaurant is right in the middle of Card Sound Road, which had been closed since the road was shut down in both directions. Sunday was their first day open since the fire. "Just opened the gate when you guys pulled up," said Mike Arnold, Alabama Jack's general manager. He said it was the worst time to have to close down. "Pretty much climaxing right now on spring break, you have NASCAR in town," Arnold said. "One of our biggest weeks and you just wiped it out completely. One hundred percent since Tuesday at 3 o'clock." Card Sound Road is open again but that could always change depending on the circumstances. In the meantime, the goal for Florida Forest Service officials today is containment. They told CBS News Miami the fire is under control, but they do want to stop any hot spots from flaring up. "There are areas of unbridled fuel in and around the fire," said Lodie Bond of the Forest Service. "We did see one area in particular over by US-1." Miami-Dade firefighters are still assisting. The Forest Service said they would stay and keep the fire under control. "'Controlled' means no visible smoke and no visible flame," Bond said. And, Bond said the forest service could be here for days, or even weeks, before the fire is completely out.
