COLUMBIA, S.C. — Following a full day of closing arguments, a jury on Friday found former Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood and two deputies guilty of conspiracy and several other federal charges after two days of deliberations.
Breaking —Former Chester sheriff Alex Underwood and two deputies are guilty of conspiracy and multiple other charges in federal court after two days of deliberations. Details ahead on Channel 9.
— Greg Suskin (@GSuskinWSOC9) April 23, 2021
Underwood went on trial Monday for federal corruption charges.
Channel 9 has followed every step of this case for two years.
Underwood, Lieutenant Johnny Neal and Chief Deputy Robert Sprouse were indicted in May 2019 because of video footage recorded by Kevin Simpson showing deputies working a case outside his home.
Court documents say Underwood grabbed Simpson and illegally arrested him.
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Underwood, Sprouse and Neal are accused of violating Simpson’s civil rights and trying to cover up the arrest. Later that year, they were indicted on different charges.
Prosecutors said they used county money for personal trips and had employees perform manual labor on Underwood’s property.
The first witness who testified said he was called off a surveillance operation on a drug dealer to work at Underwood’s house and felt he had no choice but to go.
Defense lawyers said Underwood didn’t commit any crimes and called the prosecution’s case a rush to judgment.
The trial was delayed one year due to COVID-19 and it’s expected to last three weeks.
Each man faces a dozen or more charges. They have all pleaded not guilty. If convicted, they could face decades of prison time.
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