White nationalist bailed out of York County SC jail amid coronavirus fear. What’s next?
An alt-right white nationalist from Florida, who had been in a South Carolina jail since January on domestic violence and weapons charges, was released Wednesday after posting bail.
Augustus Sol Invictus posted a $10,000 bond, York County court and jail records show. He was freed a day after South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Dan Hall granted the bail request. That request was the result of an emergency bond hearing March 27 requested by Invictus’ lawyers.
Invictus left the jail after 2 p.m.
Invictus did not discuss the case when he was released. He asked that no pictures or video be taken outside the Moss Justice Center in York, S.C. Invictus did reiterate to The Herald outside the jail, in a brief two-sentence statement, his previous in court claims that he did not commit any crimes.
“All there is to say is I am innocent and it is a matter of time until everyone else figures that out,” Invictus said outside the jail. “I look forward to my court date as soon as they can set it.”
Invictus, 36, is a defense lawyer who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in Florida in 2016. Invictus’ Twitter social media page states he is a candidate for president.
Police and prosecutors have said previously in court that Invictus’ wife told officers Invictus choked her and held a gun to her head in Rock Hill on Dec. 12. Invictus had been held without bail in the York County jail after he was arrested in late December in Florida.
The Herald is not naming the wife.
Conditions of the bond included that Invictus must leave York County.
Invictus’ lawyers, 16th Circuit Public Defenders B.J Barrowclough and Jeff Zuschke, said after Invictus was released that he will stay in Florida while on bond, and will only return for court dates. The lawyers declined further comment.
Hall initially denied Invictus bail in a February court hearing. But last week, his lawyers said in court that coronavirus and Covid-19 health concerns have halted trials, so Invictus deserved to be released. The lawyers also brought up a concern over coronavirus spreading to the jail.
No coronavirus cases have been reported at the jail.
Cases heard over the past three weeks in York County court were considered emergency bond hearings due to fears that a high number of jail inmates could be endangered if the virus hits the jail, court officials told The Herald.
Prosecutors had sought in court to keep Invictus jailed until trial. Kevin Brackett, 16th Circuit Solicitor, declined comment on Invictus’ release.
Invictus has put out social media postings about his treatment by authorities while being jailed in York County since January, court testimony last week showed. Zuschke, one of Invictus’ lawyers, said in court last week Invictus operates an “alt-right news site.”
Zuschke said Invictus has rights as an American citizen who has not been convicted of any crime.
Invictus faces as much as 20 years in prison if convicted of the domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature charge, and five years on the gun charge under South Carolina law.
No trial date has been set because of coronavirus effects on court scheduling, Invictus’ lawyers said Wednesday.
