South Carolina Sheriff Who Told Deputy to Taser Inmate Found Not Guilty

A South Carolina sheriff who ordered his deputy to shock a jail inmate several times with a Taser has been found not guilty of violating the inmate’s civil rights.

On Monday, a federal jury took around one hour to deliberate, before clearing Marlboro County Sheriff Charles Lemon, according to The Associated Press.

Outside the courtroom, Lemon said he had believed all along that he would be found not guilty. “Thank the good Lord, thank the good Lord, I’m probably going to go to sleep thanking the good Lord,” he said.

The incident took place in May 2020, when Lemon ordered Deputy David Andrew Cook to use his Taser when it was already touching the inmate after the man refused to go to his cell, prosecutors said.

He ordered Cook to use the Taser again. Cook fired the device’s prongs into the victim, shocking him six times.

Prosecutors said this was twice as many jolts as officers are trained to use. Lemon, is not trained to use a Taser, and should not have directed the deputy to use it, they added.

Afterward, Lemon said in a statement that the man had attacked him while he was trying to escape from a cell.

In December, 2021, Lemon was suspended from work and indicted on charges of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, as well as misconduct in office.

Lemon testified in his own defense. He said he had known the inmate’s family for decades.

According to his testimony, the inmate, who suffered from mental health problems, was arrested after attacking his father with a baseball bat and his fists, and throwing his Bible in the trash as he prepared to go to church.

Lemon said he did not intend to violate the inmate’s civil rights, and that he had been called to help get him into his cell.

An expert witness for the defense testified that six shocks with a Taser was not excessive when dealing with someone who does not follow orders.

The deputy who shocked the inmate on Lemon’s order pleaded guilty to a federal charge earlier this year and testified against the sheriff.

He will be sentenced at a later date.

Lemon joins a long line of South Carolina sheriffs charged with misconduct.

Since 2010, 13 sheriffs in the state’s 46 counties have been convicted of crimes ranging from taking bribes and running drug rings to forcing inmates to do personal work.

Some have also been convicted of creating false police reports to get people out of credit card debt.

Lemon no longer faces any charges and can be reinstated.

The original charges against the inmate for assaulting a police officer still stand.