Latest news with #WSPA
Yahoo
19 hours 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
20 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
New library opens in the heart of downtown Iva
ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – The Iva Branch Library is now open at 622 East Front Street, and leaders hope it will serve as a community hub to bring more people to downtown. It took four years to turn an old fire station into a library, located in the heart of downtown Iva. The ribbon cutting means a new start for this town. Visitors said they're impressed. 'It looks amazing, spacious, airy, modern, clean looking. They thought through the different areas and they especially kept the kids in mind. We're excited about that,' said Abby Almaroad. Laura Hubbard-Covert and her step-daughter, Bryleigh, couldn't wait to check out books. 'This is Bryleigh's first library card. I remember when I was little my mom took me to the library, and it gave me a love for books,' Laura Hubbard-Covert. Library directors said the new library addresses the limitations of the old, smaller library in the building behind Anderson school district three offices. 'We have an expanded children's area really focused on play and creativity. We will have programs in that department,' said Annie Sutton, Anderson County Library Director. 'We also have larger meeting room space, larger study rooms. The community can have meetings and get togethers, things like that here. The space is also transformable. Everything is on wheels and casters, and you can move things around to create more space.' Now that school is out for summer, parents are glad they have an upgraded library close to home to keep their children's minds engaged. 'I think it's very important because over the summer they can tend to kind of forget what they've learned and kind of have to start all over at the beginning of the year,' said Hubbard-Covert. 'I love for them to be able to find books that excite their interest in whatever they're interested in. They can find a book about it and just keep on going with those passions that they have,' said Almaroad. Parents said their child's love for books just increased. 'I would tell her this, that you can do anything you want to do with a book,' said Hubbard-Covert. 'If you want to climb the tallest tree or sail the ocean, you can do it in a book, so read a book!' The Anderson County Library Director said the Community Development Block grant awarded the library with $500,000 for this project. The library is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The library is closed on Sundays. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Anderson Co. deputies looking for alleged car thieves
ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) — Deputies are searching for two people who stole two cars from a car dealership in to the Anderson County Sheriff's Office, the thefts occurred on May 26 at a dealership on Pearman Dairy Road. The pair, deputies said, stole a white 2023 GMC Yukon Denali and a black 2025GMS 2500 Denali. Know something? Officials ask that you call the sheriffs office at (864) 260-4400, using case reference number 2025-06783. Tips can also be submitted anonymously online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Spartanburg man sentenced to prison for severe infant abuse
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – A Spartanburg man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the severe abuse that sent an 11-month-old to the hospital with injuries that included a broken back. Dalton Lane Miller, 23, pleaded guilty on Friday to felony child abuse with great bodily injury and unlawful neglect of a child. In June 2024, Hannah Cason brought her extremely bruised infant to the Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. Miller, who had been dating Cason for three months at the time, drove her and the child to the hospital, but refused to enter the building and stayed in the parking lot, according to the 7th Circuit Solicitor's Office. PREVIOUS: Three accused of abusing infant in Chesnee The infant was suffering from multiple bruises across his body, head, and genitals, swollen eyes and lips, and a toe that later needed to be amputated. He also tested positive for cocaine, fentanyl, and THC. Officers with the Chesnee Police Department and the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office were called to the hospital and the infant was transferred to Prisma Health Children's Hospital in Greenville for further treatment. Later examination showed that the infant had a broken frenulum, infected eyes, two fractured vertebrae, and suspicion of chemical injury. Officers found text messages from Miller, sharing photos of the child's injuries to a neighbor and how he was upset he that no one had wished him a happy Father's Day. Messages were also found between him and Cason, discussing a fabricated story they would tell police in regards to the child's injuries, according to the Solicitor's Office. A DSS Foster Care Case Manager involved with the child said that the infant is 'keeping score of what happened to him,' and 'he is still experiencing trauma and suffering from the abuse.' Miller received credit for the nearly one year of time served. He must also cooperate with counseling and the substance treatment unit. The Solicitor's Office said that Cason has also entered a guilty plea to the same charges and is awaiting sentencing. The child's grandmother, Kathryn Cason, pleaded guilty to failing to report child abuse or neglect and was sentenced to 30 days in jail suspended to a $200 fine, according to court records. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
What do SC leaders think about Trump's ‘Big, Beautiful Bill'?
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – There was plenty of drama behind-the-scenes in Washington D.C. surrounding President Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' including a 'no' vote from one of South Carolina's Republican Representatives. President Trump said his 'Big, Beautiful Bill' includes G.O.P. priorities, such as tax cuts and extra border security. 'We're not doing any cutting of anything meaningful. The only thing we're cutting is waste, fraud, and abuse with Medicaid,' said Trump. As expected, democratic Representative Jim Clyburn voted against the bill. Representative Ralph Norman, along with a few other G.O.P. holdouts, initially voted against the bill, saying it didn't go far enough to cut Medicaid benefits for undocumented immigrants. 'You know, to be honest with you, I never thought I would have to fight for getting illegals off the government payroll,' Norman said. After conversations with Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump, Norman said they worked out a deal. 'It was a great bill, but we just didn't cut like I thought we should have, and I held out for the last minute,' Norman said. 'When we got pretty much what I thought we needed, we voted for it. ' Senator Lindsey Graham said people should be responsible with their own vote, but Republicans shouldn't vote 'no.' 'We need to get behind President Trump,' Graham said. 'This is our best chance in 40 years to control spending in Washington, and we need to be working with Trump, not against him.' Graham added that he expects the bill to change in the Senate. 'I intend to change the bill, but I'll do it working with President Trump,' Graham said. 'He has enough enemies in the in the nation and throughout the world. The Republican Party needs to help this man because he's doing things that other presidents couldn't do. ' Governor Henry McMaster also supports the 'Big Beautiful Bill.' The Bill was passed in the House, and is now in the hands of the Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
