Interim Marlboro County sheriff is 2nd to seek office in June’s Democratic primary
MARLBORO COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Interim Marlboro County Sheriff Larry McNeil will have to defeat a former office holder in June to win a term of his own.
McNeil on March 20 filed as a Democratic candidate for sheriff, joining Fred Knight, who held the post from 2005 through 2017.
News13 photo: Curtis Graham News13 photo: Curtis Graham
The filing deadline is noon on April 1. As of Monday, no Republicans have expressed interest. On Monday afternoon, James Pauling filed for sheriff under the Alliance party.
McNeil, a one-time Bennettsville police chief, has been acting sheriff since December 2021, when Charles Lemon was suspended on charges of misconduct in office and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
Lemon and Deputy David Cook were indicted in January in U.S. District Court in Florence. State charges against Lemon were dropped, and he’s slated for trial on June 3.
Cook pleaded guilty earlier this month. Both men face up to 10 years in prison.
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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.
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