Indicted Chester SC sheriff Underwood wants trial. He will get it, federal judge says
Suspended Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood has said through his lawyer that he wants a trial so he can show that he is innocent of federal prosecutors’ accusations.
Underwood and two former deputies also charged in the case will get that trial in Columbia, a federal judge in South Carolina has ruled.
U.S. District Court Judge Michelle Childs has set an April trial for Underwood and the deputies , according to court documents. “Trial in this case will take place April 20, 2020 through May 1, 2020,” Childs wrote in a court order.
Jury selection is set to start April 1, Childs’ order states.
Underwood, Lt. Johnny Neal and Chief Deputy Sprouse are charged with civil rights violations, filing false police reports in an attempt to cover up a false arrest, and evidence tampering. The charges are linked to an incident where a Chester County man was arrested in 2018 after he videotaped an incident near his home in Fort Lawn. The video was streamed Facebook.
Underwood, Neal and Sprouse have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The S.C. Attorney General dropped the charges against the man who federal prosecutors said was victimized by Underwood and the deputies.
Underwood’s lawyer, Stanley Myers, said in November 2019 Underwood maintains his innocence and wants a trial to clear his name.
The three were first indicted May 7, when Underwood was suspended from office by S.C. Gov Henry McMaster.
In November, The Herald reported a federal grand jury issued more indictments against all three men, alleging conspiracy and other crimes. Underwood also is charged with misuse of Chester County money for personal travel to Nevada and New Orleans, forcing deputies to work on his property, and directing security detail payments for off-duty deputies to avoid paying employment taxes.
Underwood, called “Big A” in court documents, and Sprouse also are charged with lying to the FBI during the investigation.
The charges carry from one year to 20 years in prison for each conviction.
Max Dorsey, a former State Law Enforcement Division agent, was named sheriff while Underwood is suspended.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
This story was originally published January 6, 2020 at 10:18 AM.
