South-Carolina

Former South Carolina sheriff to plead guilty to drug-related crimes, stealing from benevolence fund

Published

2 months ago

October 30, 2025

A former South Carolina sheriff is expected to plead guilty Thursday to federal charges that he stole from his force’s benevolence fund and took pain medication that was supposed to be destroyed as part of a pill take-back program.

Former Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright signed a plea agreement last month with federal prosecutors on charges of conspiring to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and conspiring to commit wire fraud and obtaining controlled substances through misrepresentation. He is scheduled to appear Thursday morning at the federal courthouse in Anderson.

Wright will be at least the 12th sheriff in South Carolina to be convicted or plead guilty to on-duty crimes in the past 15 years for misconduct ranging from extorting drug dealers to having inmates work at their homes to hiring a woman and then pressuring her to have sex.

Sheriffs run the law enforcement organizations in the state’s 46 counties. South Carolina law gives the elected officials wide latitude over how their money is spent, what crimes their agencies concentrate on stopping and who gets hired and fired. They also provide little oversight beyond a vote by the people of each county every four years.

Beyond abusing power, there is little in common among the convicted sheriffs. They’ve been in small rural agencies and big, urban ones. There was a scheme to create false police reports to help clients of a friend’s credit repair business. A sheriff took bribes to keep a restaurant owner’s employees from being deported. One covered up an illegal arrest. And another punched a woman in the face and stole her cellphone.

In Wright’s case, the former sheriff plundered the fund meant to help deputies who face financial difficulties, including once saying he needed cash to send an officer to Washington to honor a deputy killed in the line of duty. Instead the money went in his own pocket, federal prosecutors said.

Most of Wright’s crimes happened as he dealt with an addiction to painkillers. In addition to the drugs he took from pill take-back program, Wright also got a blank check from the benevolence fund and used it to pay for oxycodone and hydrocodone pills, writing it out his dealer, according to court records.

Wright also faces more than 60 charges of ethics violations for using his county-issued credit card for personal expenses. In all, there was more than $50,000 in disputed spending, including more than $1,300 he allegedly spent at Apple’s app store and almost $1,600 he paid for Sirius/XM radio, according to court records.

Wright agreed to plead guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and obtaining controlled substances through misrepresentation. He is scheduled to appear Thursday morning at the courthouse in Anderson.

The maximum penalty for all three counts combined is nearly 30 years, although Wright will likely receive a much lighter sentence. He also will have to pay at least $440,000 in restitution. A sentencing date has not been set.

Source link

South-Carolina

Former South Carolina starter commits to ACC school via transfer portal

Published

10 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Former South Carolina starter commits to ACC school via transfer portal

Former South Carolina football offensive lineman Cason Henry announced his intention to transfer in December. Just a couple of weeks later, he has found a new school to call home.

According to a report from On3’s Pete Nakos, Henry has committed to the Louisville Cardinals. He will join Louisville as a fifth-year senior, but pending medical redshirts, he could have multiple years left to play.

Henry earned a starting gig for South Carolina ahead of the last three seasons. However, he saw action in just six combined games in 2023 and 2025 as he dealt with injuries. He started all 13 games of 2024 at right tackle. That year, he was one of the team’s most improved players from season’s beginning to season’s end.

Henry was the top-performing overall blocker for the Gamecocks at the beginning of 2025. However, a shoulder injury ended the 6-6, 310-pound tackle’s season after just four games.

Henry was a three-star prospect back in the class of 2022 out of Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia.

South Carolina Transfer Portal Resources:

Cason Henry Bio on GamecocksOnline

2024 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
2024 Most Improved Player of the Spring – Offense
2023 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
2022-23 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll
2022 Offensive Scout Team Award

Talented offensive lineman who is in his fifth year of college football in 2026… incumbent at the right tackle position but his career has been plagued by injuries… has appeared in 21 games over the past three seasons with 18 starts…. entered the transfer portal following the 2025 season.

2025 (Redshirt Junior)
Starter in each of the first four games at right tackle and was playing at a high level… served as a game captain against Vanderbilt, but was injured in that contest… returned the following week against Missouri, but was injured on the first play of the game and did not return… underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in October.

Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning

By clicking “Subscribe to Newsletter”, I agree to On3’s Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

2024 (Redshirt Sophomore)
Right tackle who was able to stay healthy throughout the season, earning the starting assignment in all 13 contests… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll… recognized as the Most Improved Player of the Spring for the offense.

2023 (Redshirt Freshman)
Appeared in just two games as he was hampered by a knee injury… was limited early in fall camp, but still earned his way into a starting assignment at right tackle for the season opener against North Carolina… was injured in that contest and spent much of the season rehabbing… finally returned to the field for the Jacksonville State contest, but was injured again and sat out the remainder of the season… was not available in the spring while rehabbing from off-season surgery… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

2022 (Freshman)
True freshman offensive lineman… worked at right tackle behind Dylan Wonnum and Tyshawn Wannamaker… saw action in two contests… played against Charlotte and South Carolina State… was a regular member of the travel roster… named the Offensive Scout Team Award winner… named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.

HIGH SCHOOL
Graduated from Walton High School in Marietta, Ga. in 2022… played on both sides of the ball in high school… the Raiders went 9-4 in his senior season… coached by Daniel Brunner… played multiple offensive line spots, but primarily at right tackle as a junior in 2020 when he helped his team to the second round of the state 7A playoffs… was a first-team All-Cobb Country performer.

PERSONAL
Cason Mannino Henry was born Oct. 2, 2003… pursuing a degree in cyber policies and ethics.

Source link

South-Carolina

South Carolina Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for Jan. 6, 2026

Published

22 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

South Carolina Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for Jan. 6, 2026

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 6, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

09-39-47-58-68, Mega Ball: 24

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

Midday: 5-8-6, FB: 6

Evening: 4-1-2, FB: 4

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

Midday: 1-0-8-7, FB: 6

Evening: 4-7-5-5, FB: 4

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

Midday: 08

Evening: 02

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

03-08-11-12-34

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.

Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link

South-Carolina

Joe Riley’s new memoir shares life leading Charleston for 40 years

Published

1 day ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Joe Riley’s new memoir shares life leading Charleston for 40 years

Just behind Charleston city hall sits Washington Square Park with its wrought iron gates, live oaks, and a smattering of Spanish moss. This was the city’s official square until 1881.

It’s also the backdrop of former, longtime Charleston Mayor Joe Riley’s new memoir, “Windows on Washington Square,” released Jan. 6^th by Evening Post Books.

In a press release, the publisher promises a “rare, first-person account of how Charleston became the city we recognize today.”

Riley was 32 when he first took office on Dec. 15^th, 1975. He’d told his wife he’d run for just one term.

But 10 terms later, a total of 40 years, Riley became one of the nation’s longest serving mayors.

He not only helped build the now bustling city but held its hand during intense periods of pain.

Riley’s memoir offers insight into some of Charleston darkest moments; the horror of Hurricane Hugo and the immeasurable grief following the hate-fueled massacre at Mother Emanuel AME Church.

The publisher says the memoir is revealing in “how a city holds itself together when the world is watching.”

The book also shares private moments with Riley’s two sons and his wife Charlotte, a steadfast confidant.

“He’s one of a kind,” said former Columbia Mayor Stephen Benjamin in a statement. “He is the gold standard that so many of us desired to be measured against.”

An official book launch event will be held at the Dock Street Theater later this month.

Now 82, Riley stepped down from office in January of 2016.

Source link