CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. — Gov. Nikki Haley has suspended Chesterfield County Sheriff Sam Parker from office following his indictment on misconduct charges.
Gubernatorial spokesman Rob Godfrey said Wednesday that Haley signed an order removing Parker after the State Grand Jury handed up the charges.
On Tuesday, the South Carolina Attorney General said Parker was charged with four counts of misconduct in office and two counts of furnishing contraband to inmates.
Read some of the things Parker is accused of giving and letting inmates do, here.
The Attorney General said indictments against the sheriff were returned by the State Grand Jury Tuesday. He said the indictment lays out allegations that Parker allowed inmates to go shopping, eat out, wear civilian clothing, even live outside jail in exchange for doing work at his home and within the Sheriff's Department.
"You don't let prisoners out. They're in there for a reason," said Patti Freeman, from Chesterfield.
Parker told Channel 9 Wednesday that he plans to fight to stay in office. He said he was "shellshocked" by the charges and didn't know they were coming. Parker said he will not resign from office.
The residents Eyewitness News spoke with Tuesday said these are serious and scary allegations.
One man told us he knows the Sheriff, they are friends, and he considers him a stand up guy. He would be surprised if this turns out to be true.
"Because of his character, who he is," said Gary Cash, a Chesterfield County resident. "So we'll have to wait until everything comes out before we can make an assumption."
Residents Eyewitness News spoke with said they will wait to see how this plays out. But if the Sheriff is convicted, some say he should be held to the same standard others are.
"They aren't above the law they need to be doing the same thing they want us to do," said Freeman.
"I hope the truth comes out, they find the truth. If it really happened then he needs to be punished for it," said Lisa Munoz, from Jefferson.
Eyewitness News spoke with the county council chairman over the phone and he said these allegations are sad to hear. He says that no matter what happens the county will move forward and continue to provide services to the people who live there.
Coroner Kip Kiser becomes the acting sheriff.