Man wrongly convicted of kidnapping, rape running for Lincoln Co. sheriff

LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — Last year Anthony Huss was serving time in prison after being convicted of kidnapping and second-degree rape.
       
On Friday he proudly wore a pin asking voters in Lincoln County to make him their sheriff.
       
Huss said he realized while in prison the system needed to change.

"On the fourth day I decided to be sheriff," Huss said.

He said he was wrongfully convicted in 2011.
        
Several months later the state appeals court overturned his convictions.
        
They said prosecutors didn't prove their case, but wrote they still believe the victim was forced to have sex against her will.

"If it can happen to me it can happen to anybody," Huss said.

Huss entered a float into the Lincolnton Fourth of July parade to announce his candidacy.

He got the convictions cleared from his record and collected the 100 signatures needed to qualify as a write-in candidate for sheriff.

Going from prison inmate to sheriff may seem reasonable to him, but a lot of voters are having trouble following that logic.

"Oh no, man, no.  Lord no," said voter Alonzo Odom.

They don't care that the convictions were overturned.

"If he committed a crime why would he even run for it? I mean is it a joke," said voter Janice Vernon.

The director of the Lincoln County Board of Elections said it's definitely not a joke.

"As it stands right now Mr. Huss is a write-in candidate for sheriff," said Director Bradley Putnam.
    
Putman said any voter can challenge Huss' residency, because he was living in Alexander County last December.

"You must have residency in Lincoln County for one year," Putnam said.

Read more trending stories on wsoctv.com:

• NC Marine filmed urinating on Taliban corpses found dead
• Rock Hill PD: Boy threw boiling water on another boy
• Sources: Health improving for 2 Americans with Ebola
• Fundraiser to be held for boy with brittle bone disease
• Sheriff's Office identifies Lake Norman drowning victim

WSOC